EL still fine tuning budget

By C.J. MARSHALL
Wyoming County Press Examiner

The Elk Lake School Board on Wednesday, June 1, continued its efforts to hammer out a budget for 2016-17 by approving an increase for the district’s health insurance program.

On a motion by board member Chuck Place and seconded by Ann Teel, the board voted unanimously to increase its contribution from $425 to $515 per month for single person insurance coverage, and from $975 to $1,078 per month for family coverage. The motion also increased the district’s contribution to $515 per month for COBRA coverage.

District Superintendent Dr. Ken Cuomo, recommended the increase, saying the district has underfunded its health insurance program for the past few years due to budget constraints. However, Cuomo said, if the program continued to be underfunded, it would quickly get to the point where its health reserve funds would be depleted.

The increase will put an additional $255,144 per year from Elk Lake’s budget toward the health insurance fund, plus an additional $49,428 per year from the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center.

Cuomo also cautioned that although the increase is significant, the amount being paid for family coverage still falls short, and will probably have to be addressed by the district next year.

The board’s action is but one of the many steps being taken to have a final budget in place by June 30.

Although the board approved a preliminary budget of $20.7 million on May 19, Cuomo restated his concerns on Wednesday about what will be necessary to make certain that all budgetary requirements will be met.

Cuomo explained that although the preliminary budget is actually $368,000 less than the 2015-16 budget, there will be a considerable increase in expenses – particularly from salaries, retirement costs, and medical benefits – that the district will have to cover.

Because the district has already cut expenses in various areas over the years, Cuomo added that the district is going to be facing some difficult choices – such as cutting programs or personnel – in order to put together a balanced budget.

On a motion by Place and seconded by Teel, the board voted unanimously to accept a bid of $32,990 from Broome Bituminous of Vestal, N.Y., to pave a section of the driveway and the walkway in front of the school.

Cuomo explained that the asphalt for the area in question is lying about in chunks, and paving must be done now to correct the situation.

Earlier in the meeting, when board members were acting in their capacity as officials for the SCCTC, executive director Alice Davis reported that 143 SCCTC students are scheduled to graduate at 7 p.m. on June 9 in the elementary school gym.

Davis also reported that a bingo fund raiser is scheduled for June 21 at 6 p.m. at the career center. Proceeds will be used to help offset the career center’s expenses and costs.

SCCTC will offer a 120-hour welding class to adult students, Monday through Friday, from June 20 to July 13. Classes will be held 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and tuition will be $1,800.

Interested parties may contact the school at 570-278-9229, ext. 6670 to enroll.

Davis informed the board that the Scholarships for Careers and Community Projects Fund has provided SCCTC with a grant for $1,296.95. The grant is broken down into two parts, with $1,146.95 to be used for the purchase of a new washer and dryer for the SCCTC Food Management Program, and $150 for the 2015-2016 SCCTC Memory Book for use by students.