TRR photo by Tom Kane Members of the Sullivan West board of education listen to public comment relating to the upcoming budget and school board election vote. (Click for larger image)

Sullivan West holds public hearings on proposed budget

By TOM KANE

JEFFERSONVILLE — On Tuesday, May 15, residents of the Sullivan-West School District will go to the polls to vote on the new $24,698,544 budget for school year 2001-2002.

They will also choose three new school board members. (See candidate statements and photos).

Last Thursday, May 3, the board held the first of three public hearings on the budget at the Jeffersonville campus. A hearing was held on May 8 in Narrowsburg and is scheduled for Thursday, May 10 at Delaware Valley.

The tax levy to be imposed is $10,395,163.

“If the budget is turned down, by law the contingency budget has to impose a tax levy of $10,176,396,” Johndrow said. “Not a whole lot less than the proposed tax levy.”

“The actual budget increase over last year is $982,499,” said Michael Johndrow, school superintendent at the May 3 meeting. “That translates into an average property tax increase of 4.93 percent.”

Next Wednesday, district residents will vote on the budget proposition and school board election at one of three locations: the 1938 gymnasium at Sullivan West at Jeffersonville, the gymnasium at Sullivan West at Delaware Valley, and the Tusten-Cochection branch of the Sullivan West library in Narrowsburg. Polls open at 12:00 noon and close at 9:00 p.m. at all three sites.