Feb 25, 2015 1 min read

Over the past 10 years or so, enrollment in the Central Greene School District has significantly decreased, and yet taxes and expenses continue to increase.

At the Feb. 17 school board meeting, a tentative budget with even more spending was approved by a 7 to 2 vote. I was one of the two members voting against it. This tentative budget included a 2.03 mill tax increase, and taxes have already been raised in the last two years.

Yes, there is time to possibly change this, since the final budget does not have to be approved until the end of June and hopefully the state will increase its subsidy. My concern is not only the tax increase, but also the overall increase in expenditures.

Our auditors reminded us that a fund balance, which is essential for the proper operation and fiscal stability of the district, can be maintained in only three ways: revenue from growth; expenditure reductions; or tax increases.

As a taxpayer on a fixed income for the past eight years, I believe we need to seriously consider more than the third option, especially when the enrollment is declining so drastically.

Eleanor Chapman

Waynesburg

Chapman is a director on the Central Greene school board.