ECS garage
overshadows budget

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED, NY — Normally the Eldred Central School budget is the focus of taxpayer discussion in May, but this year the budget has taken a back seat to a district proposition for the construction of a bus garage.

The 2003-04 budget, approved earlier this month, now totals $10,248,952, which amounts to an 8.04 percent in spending. District officials blame increasing insurance and pension system costs for much of the increase.

While the budget requires a 5.85 percent increase in the district tax levy, the increase is considerably less than the 10.03 increase carried in the current year budget, but higher than four out of the five percentages of increase from the last five years.

More at issue recently has been the ECS plan to replace a leased bus garage with a district-owned site adjoining the secondary campus.

The $1.25 million garage and bus parking area is the second phase in a multi-year renovation program, and if approved by voters, is expected to be under construction some time next year following state approval of plans, at the same time repair construction at the MacKenzie Elementary School is underway.

ECS officials say the retirement of existing bond debt, combined with construction aid and the elimination of the current $26,400 annual lease payment, will translate to a $12 per household tax payment increase on a typical $100,000 home.

The three-bay garage would be located at the site of current student parking, below the athletic fields and prompt a general restructuring of parking and field access, north of the secondary school building. Paved bus parking and chain link security fence would also be installed.

In the annual election to fill a board vacancy, incumbent Bob Burrow is running unopposed for re-election.