Ithaca City School District hits the drawing board to come up with new budget

ITHACA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It’s right back to the drawing board for the Ithaca City School District after voters overwhelmingly voted down the proposed budget.

Election results from May 21 have the Ithaca Board of Education scrambling.

“I think there needs to be some clarity on some of the talking points we have,” said board member Erin Croyle. “I understand it, but I can’t verbalize it.”

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The board discussed what they think voters didn’t agree and why they so resoundingly defeated the budget.

“The feel from what just happened is that people are not feeling very generous with approving spending,” said board member Adam Krantweiss.

At least not $10 million more next year over the current plan, which carried an 8.5% tax levy hike. And it doesn’t seem they were going for a proposition to buy eight, electric and propane powered buses either.

“We are going to have to replace the buses this year. That’s the fact and the choice is are we going to do it with the gas engine buses?” asked board member Jill Tripp. “Or are we going to do it with the combination of electric and propane buses.

Time is not on the board’s side; they only have a few weeks to come up with a new spending plan.

“I am so concerned for our students. I want to have time to consider options and make sure the public knows what all these options mean,” Croyle said. “I know that’s a lot of work, but I feel like that’s what we need to put out there before we decide what you put up for the next vote.”

“I think we go back and ask the public between now and then and focus on the concerns they have with the budget,” said board member Garrick Blalock.

The next school board meeting will be on May 28th. They’ll then begin to assemble a new school budget.

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