Ithaca Board of Education hears from parents as new budget talks get underway

​ITHACA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — On Tuesday night, May 28, the Ithaca Board of Education meeting was the first for the board to begin creating a new budget.

The board heard from multiple parents who voted down the original budget due to a variety of reasons.

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Those reasons span across different areas of the budget.

Parents want more of a focus on classes and what is being taught in the classroom while community members are worried about their taxes going up.

“I want to see more early exposure to math, science, technology, STEM, type stuff,” said Megan McDonald, a parent in attendance. “STEM is a fundamental thing this new, younger generation is going to need. They’ll need to solve problems like climate change, world peace.”

“Property assessments have skyrocketed. The assessor’s office said don’t worry about it, school taxes can always go down,” said Jim Meehan, who campaigned against the last budget. “The superintendent implied the tax rate was staying the same. If you keep the tax rate the same, and the assessments are going through the roof, that means your taxes are going through the roof.”

Changes to the new budget that the board is considering making includes not purchasing new equipment and supplies, not hiring new staff for vacant positions and decreasing administrative labor costs by 22%.

The next budget vote set by the state is June 18, 2024.

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