In this Sunday’s Times-Herald Record it was reported that Eldred Central School District’s budget increased .8%, as had also been reported by the district in its newsletter. What the newsletter did not report was that the tax levy has increased by 2.9%, which is the highest increase in Sullivan County. Eldred is also the only district in the county where the increase in the levy was greater than the increase in the overall budget. In an earlier report in the Times-Herald Record, Superintendent Dufour had acknowledged that the district’s level of state aid had decreased, but did not know why.

Upon reading these different reports, I surmise that the tax levy increase is due primarily to the decreased state aid. I inquired about this by email to Mr. Dufour but have not yet received a reply. Given the turnover in the business office at Eldred these past couple of years, I wonder who is responsible for assuring that the students and taxpayers are getting their “fair share?” To not receive our fair share is tantamount to picking the taxpayers’ pockets.

Susan Wade

Highland Lake, NY