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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

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www.SunCommunityNews.com

In FEATURES | pg. 4

Sun editor named writer of the year Pete DeMola acknowledged with state award

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In NEWS| pg. 9

Champlain budget passed

Village well below the tax cap, says mayor

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In EVENTS | pg. 11

Most on the Coast returns

Market day to take place Saturday, April 23

No cuts planned for Beekmantown Central School District

Superintendent Dan Mannix says 2016-17 spending plan will come in under the tax cap By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

WEST CHAZY — Beekmantown Central School District is staying within the tax cap. Beekmantown’s tax levy is set at 0.63 percent for the 2016-17 school year with $40,143176 in revenues — leaving over $120,000 to be raised locally. Superintendent Dan Mannix said the district won’t know if the tax rate will increase or decrease for the third year in a row until July.

However, he said the district is facing no cuts and plans to improve its programming despite the state budget. A few weeks ago, state aid was increased by 6.5 percent to $24.8 billion for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this is the “largest single investment in education in the history of the state of New York, period.” The district has lost over $7.8 million due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment which will be eliminated within one year. A little over $84,000 has been restored to the school this year. “It’s nice to see the state moved their level of funding,” Mannix said. But Mannix said the level of state funding

remains inadequate. In addition to the traditional aid, the state budget maintains $340 million in annual funding for the statewide universal full-day pre-K program. The district, Mannix said, receives funding for half-day pre-K, but puts in the remainder to offer full-day learning to the young students. Collaborations with other districts, such as Northeastern Clinton and Chazy, have helped save $50,000. Mannix said Beekmantown is currently in discussion with Plattsburgh City School District to explore possible shared services. The district also managed to reserve over $20,000 due to a reduction in paper and text-

SprucingÊup Ô uglyÕ Ê bridge

>>See Ugly bridge | pg. 10

NEW ADDITIONS The superintendent said there are quite a few new line items to this school year’s bud>> See Beekmantown budget | pg. 15

Budget officer: No hike in taxes for Rouses Point residents Village leans on fund balance to keep taxes low

Village of Champlain officials discussing repainting and repaving the Elm Street Bridge CHAMPLAIN — Village of Champlain officials are pondering what to do with one of the community’s biggest eyesores, the Elm Street Bridge. The structure connecting Elm Street to Route 9, village officials said, is withering Teah away in terms of appearance. Dowling Writer “The bridge is ugly,” Mayor Greg Martin said. “It’s getting worse and worse.” Officials are tossing ideas back and forth about how to solve the problem. Initially, the village reached out to Clinton County asking to put their structure on the county’s list of bridges. County officials, Martin said, declined adding the bridge to their list, citing a lack of urgency. “Structurally it’s fine,” he said. “But it’s rough to drive on.” Trustee Janet McFetridge noted chipping paint and uneven pavement rife with holes.

books because of the One-to-One Digital Literacy Initiative. A number of ebooks have been purchased over textbooks, Mannix said, and many student assignments and tests have been administered through Chromebooks instead of on paper. Another $50,000 was saved in computer equipment thanks to the Smart Schools Bond Act. Over the next 15 years, Mannix said, the savings should continue.

By Teah Dowling

teah@suncommunitynews.com

Village of Champlain officials are pondering what to do with the Elm Street Bridge, which is withering away in terms of appearance. Photo by Janet McFetridge

ROUSES POINT — Village of Rouses Point officials will remain below the tax cap for this year’s budget. Budget Officer Arsene Letourneau said the municipality is under the .73 cap by $46,278. Letourneau said the budget process was difficult this year due to increases in fixed costs, decreases in revenues and taxable assessments and unfunded mandates. Other factors beyond their control, he said, included the decreasing value of the Canadian dollar, which now equates to 71 cents in the United States. “It was very challenging,” he said. The village peeled $233,830 from their fund balance to avoid a hike. The tax rate is the same as last year at $4.50. The tax levy is $575,506, with total appropriations at $5,986,667. >> See Rouses Point budget | pg. 10


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