Budgets and board members

Eldred Central School District prepares for vote

By SANDY LONG

ELDRED, NY — The Eldred Central School District Board of Education met on May 8 and presented a proposed budget of $16,559,859 for the 2008-2009 school year. The plan represents a 5.27 percent increase over the 2007-2008 budget.

In an effort to save tax dollars on borrowing and interest in subsequent years, the purchase of four school buses was added to the budget. The result is a 5.43 percent increase to the tax levy based on current state aid figures, according to business manager William Thornton.

Before the meeting, an opportunity was made available to meet the two candidates seeking the seat vacated by long-time board member Robert Burrows, who will retire from board service.

During the “Meet the Candidate Forum,” Michael Halloran, a resident of Barryville for 18 years, addressed a small crowd of community members, followed by Linda Bohs, a lifelong resident of Eldred.

Halloran is serving his 20th year as an officer with the Port Jervis Police Department. He and his wife, Darlene, have three sons currently enrolled in the district.

Bohs and her husband, Norman, have two daughters who are graduates of the school district. After 36 years, Bohs retired last August from her position as executive assistant to the ECS superintendent and district clerk for the board.

Both candidates placed the upcoming building project high on their list of priorities and both pointed to swiftly changing technology as another issue of increasing concern. The five-year term begins July 1, 2008 and concludes June 30, 2012.

Voting on the budget, board seat and three propositions is scheduled for May 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the junior-senior high school in Eldred. For more information contact Thornton at 845/456-1100, ext. 5146 or district superintendent Berneice Brownell at 845/557-6014, ext. 5129.