A larger-than-expected crowd quizzed school officials on Wednesday about the Scotia-Glenville School District’s $45.8 million 2008-09 spending plan,

Sixteen people attended a public hearing held on the budget, which was large when compared to past year’s, according to spokesman Bob Hanlon.

“This was the most attended meeting we’ve had in 14 years,” he said.
He attributed the increase in attendance to concerns about the economy.

“The cost of everything is increasing — whether it’s fuel or food or whatever, and salaries are not necessarily keeping [pace],” he said.

If ultimately adopted when voters head to the polls on May 20, the budget would increase the current tax rate of $19.55 per $1,000 assessed value by about 66 cents to $20.21 per $1,000. The average taxes on a home assessed at about $160,000 would increase by almost $106 to $3,234.

Hanlon said questions ranged from whether the Young Scholars program for gifted elementary school students was going to continue, which it is and the district is adding another gifted and talented instructor.

Residents also wanted more information about the inhouse autism program the district is starting.

Other new initiatives in the budget are adding a full-time physical education instructor at the elementary level to increase physical education instruction time, replacing computer equipment, providing funding for hockey and athletic expansion at the middle school and high school and adding funding for elementary school clubs.

The district also has a proposition to spend up to $435,000 to buy five new 65-passenger diesel buses. These would replace fi ve older buses that were purchased from 1995 to 1997.

Also, Hanlon said some people raised questions about the athletic fields, which is not part of this budget. However, the district is considering a building project in the fall that could include artificial turf.