Marcellus voters approve $31.6 million budget; elect board members

Marcellus resident Jim LaRose signs in before casting his ballot
in Tuesday's school budget vote.

On May 20, Marcellus Central School District voters approved the district’s $31.6 million 2014-15 budget proposal and elected two Board of Education members.

Voters approved:

• A $31,605,814 budget for the 2014-15 school year that increases spending 3.94 percent ($1,198,827) and carries a 2.37 percent tax levy increase: 547 yes, 225 no. 
• The purchase of four school buses at a cost not to exceed $376,247: 535, 237 no.

Voters also elected two members to the Marcellus Board of Education:

• Incumbent John Fuller: 632 votes;
• Incumbent David Locastro: 546 votes.

Each will serve a three-year term, beginning July 1.

“We want to thank all those who took the time to vote today,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Craig J. Tice said. “Even as state aid revenues continue to shrink in the face of rising costs, administrators and board members labored to present a plan that safeguards and enhances the quality academic program our Marcellus community expects.”

The 2014-15 tax levy increase of 2.37 percent was the largest increase the district could have passed with approval from a simple majority (50 percent plus one) of voters, per the state’s property tax levy limit law. The law requires each school district to calculate its own levy limit based on a complex, multi-step formula. Any increase above this limit would have required approval of a supermajority, or at least 60 percent of voters.


The district sought the maximum because of anticipated revenue losses from the state, due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment, as well as increased operational costs, mostly in the areas of teacher retirement contributions and BOCES services.

Administrators reduced the tax levy increase – or the amount of revenue raised through property taxes – by employing a number of strategies, including:

• Taking advantage of below-market costs for utilities due to a three-year commitment acquired by the New York School and Municipal Energy Consortium in 2012. 
• Working with district employees to control increases in health insurance costs. 
• Seeking monetary and in-kind donations to help build an on-campus softball field.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to thank the Marcellus voters for approving this budget,” said board President Ryan Riefler. “Our mission is to help students develop the responsibility, confidence and knowledge they need to become productive citizens. By maintaining our core academic program and also adding staff and services, this spending plan meets that challenge.”