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20 weeks home delivery for $10 Memorial Day Parade call: (315) 434-8889 x342 Village of Marcellus proposes Camillus readies for 65th email:subscriptions@cnylink.com 20 percent tax hike ... Page 3 annual parade ... Page 3 new subscribers only Volume 181, No. 14 April 6 to 12, 2011
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Honorable inductees Marcellus welcomes National Honor Society members
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NEWSPAPERS
West Genesee school board adopts budget By Ned Campbell editor@eagle-observer.com
MCS students shave their heads for cancer research
...See page 5
Online Follow us in Saratoga! Eagle Newspapers is heading to Saratoga Springs this weekend for the annual New York Press Association conference. What will we learn? What tips/tricks will we bring back with us? For live updates, follow interactive editor Doug Campbell (@_dougcampbell) on Twitter! While you’re at it, follow our paper on Twitter (@eagle-observer)) or Facebook (facebook. com/theeagleobserver).
Business ���������������������7 Calendar �������������������2 Classifieds �������������� 23 Editorial ��������������������4 Obituaries ��������������� 20 Public notices �������� 22 School news ����5, 6, 8 Sports �����������������9, 10
Eric Morris
Senior members of NHS look on as they wait to induct the junior members. In front: Hayley Knox; Middle row, from left: Mike Epp, Alan Donahoe, Jessie Manahan and Nicole Dorio; Back row, from left: Bryan Swierczek, Emily Gascon, Catie Nonenmacher and Ellen Brooks.
See full story on page 8.
Jordan-Elbridge Schools could drop 30 employees this budget cycle By Ned Campbell Under the Jordan-Elbridge School District’s preliminary budget, nearly 30 employees would lose their jobs; the tax levy would increase 7.3 percent. J-E interim Superintendent Larry Zacher presented the 201112 budget to about 175 residents gathered at a public forum last Tuesday, revealing a spending plan of $27,596,582 — 4.6 percent higher than the current budget. Staff members who could lose their jobs were notified March 30. Zacher said the major sources
for budget increase are rising costs of health insurance, retirement costs, unemployment, debt service, legal fees, special education and energy costs. Residents showed concern over increased legal costs; on Feb. 16, school board President Mary Alley told resident that the board had paid $70,000 in legal fees since Jan. 1. Some residents in attendance last Tuesday suggested the district drop two appeals against decisions made in State Supreme Court in February. Zacher said savings from this would not be significant, adding that legal costs have resulted mostly from the actions of the
plaintiffs who have brought the suits against the district. The district’s preliminary budget includes significant cuts to programming. A combined savings of $134,000 could come from eliminating all assistant coaches, golf, tennis and indoor track and modified athletics. Zacher said the high school could move away from offering electives annually, and instead offer them every other year. The board proposed reducing funding of marching band, drumline and winter colorguard by a total of $24,000. Students and alumni spoke strongly in supSee J-E Budget, page 19
The West Genesee school board voted March 30 to adopt a $68,326,530 budget for 2011-12 that includes a tax rate increase of 4.8 percent, 53 employee lay-offs, and cuts to programming in all areas. “I don’t feel good about it, but I feel that it was the right thing to do considering the economic conditions that are out there,” said West Genesee Superintendent Chris Brown. Two days later, following news that the state Legislature would restore substantial state aid to schools, the district chose to use incoming funds to bring the tax levy increase down to 3.8 percent. “The little that will remain will go into our reserves to begin to build our budget for next year,” Brown said. The See West Genesee, page 13
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