Southern Cayuga school officials hear budget concerns

POPLAR RIDGE -- With just one week remaining before Southern Cayuga Central School District taxpayers go to the polls to vote on a revised 2008-09 school budget, school officials listened to questions and concerns voiced by community members during a public budget hearing Monday that lasted more than two hours.

Voters will get their say June 17 on a proposed budget of $16,373,330, a 2.9 percent increase over last year's numbers, that carries an estimated tax levy increase of 4.47 percent.

The district amended an original budget of $16,448,192 with a tax levy increase of 5.24 percent after voters defeated the proposal May 20.