I know everyone is not an accountant, but how come I feel I am the only one concerned about the Niskayuna Central School District's finances?
Each year, the district uses its fund balance to help finance the budget. The proposed 2013-14 appropriated fund balance is $2.8 million, and it was $3.854 million for the 2012-13 school year.
The school board is using its "savings" to fund current operations.
Just like your bank account can dry up, so will the Niskayuna Central School District's account.
Guess what will happen then? Our school taxes will have to be increased even further just to cover the current spending levels or additional spending cuts will be required.
This specific fact was noted in an audit by the state Comptroller's Office dated March 2013 (http://tinyurl.com/lxtcjpm, pages 5-8).
The report states "An over-reliance on fund balance as a source to finance operations results in a lower tax levy for the current year, but it could also create a situation where the district needs to increase real property taxes if fund balance is no longer available for use in a subsequent year. This situation could result in the need for a tax levy in excess of the amount allowed by tax cap statute."
I am not suggesting that you necessarily vote down the budget, but Niskayuna taxpayers need to be aware that we can't afford to keep spending at these levels.
Susan Evans
Niskayuna