(estimated) $1010 $17

Published By The Board Of Education For The Information Of The Citizens Of The West Seneca Central School District

* A Resident With Senior Tax Exemption Could Have A Projected Tax Increase Less Than The Figure Shown Above. Increases Are Estimated Based On A $100,000 Market Value Home. Estimates Based On Pending State Legislation.

2008-2009 Annual ReportImpact on Senior Star $100,000 Market Value Home*

(Estimated)

Star Savings Tax Impact

$1010 $17 Pay to the order of:

John Q. Public West Seneca Central School District Resident

Estimated Rebate check

$255

Impact on Basic Star $100,000 Market Value Home*(Estimated)

Star Savings Tax Impact

$533 $29 Pay to the order of:

John Q. Public West Seneca Central School District Resident

Estimated Rebate check

$243

2

Table of ContentsBudget Overview .......................................................2Proposition No. 1, Property Tax Report Card .......3Budget Overview, Capital ........................................4Program ........................................................................5General Support .........................................................6Proposition No. 2 ........................................................7Impact of Increase of State Aid on 08-09 ...............8Fiscal Accountability Supplement ..........................8School Board Candidates ..............................9, 10, 11Absentee Ballot Information .................................11General Voting Information ..................................12

Annual Election and Budget Vote

7 am - 9 pm Tuesday • May 20, 2008

East Senior High School, 4760 Seneca Street

2008-2009BUDGET OVERVIEW

Budget Related Increases: AMOUNT % INCREASEOperating Costs..........................................$2,819,806............. .2.87%Program Additions Including:.................$741,474.................. .75% • Elementary Class Size Reduction • Social Workers • Before and After School Programs • Varsity Hockey

Gas and Diesel Costs................................ .$226,566...................23%TOTAL BUDGET INCREASES........... .$3,787,846...............3.85%

3

Where Money Comes FromTotal Estimated Revenues: $102,152,973(*Other revenues include a $1,680,000 fund balance)

Where Money GoesTotal Proposed Expenditures: $102,152,973

Property Tax Report Card

2008-2009 Projected Tax Rate Increases*Town of West Seneca $.84 2.49 %

Town of Cheektowaga .68 2.49

Town of Orchard Park .70 2.49

Town of Hamburg .65 2.49

* Despite the differing rates, the tax dollar impact on homes in

West Seneca, Cheektowaga,

Orchard Park, and Hamburg should be

similar for homes with similar market value.

2008-2009 2007-2008 Percent Proposed Budget Budget Change

Total Spending .......... $102,152,973 .............. $98,365,127 ............. 3.85 %

Total Estimated ............ 47,355,640 ................. 45,536,462 .............. 3.99 %School Tax Levy

Public School ...................... 7400 ........................... 7426 ...................(.35) %EnrollmentPercentage of increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)=2.80%

Proposition No. 1(The Budget)

YES NOShall.the.following.resolution.

be.adopted,.to.wit:.RESOLVED,.that.the.budget.for.the.West.

Seneca.Central.School.District.(the “District”) for the fiscal year

commencing July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009, as presented

by the Board of Education, in the amount of $102,152,973, is

hereby approved and adopted, and.the.required.funds.therefore.are hereby appropriated, and the

necessary real property taxes required shall be raised by a tax

on the taxable property in the District to be levied and collected

as required by law?

Actual07-08 Estimated08-09

ReservedFundBalance.............................$10,241,456..................$9,805,903

AppropriatedFundBalance......................$2,272,948..................$2,333,684

Unreserved,UnappropriatedFundBalance.................$2,371,493..................$3,050,520

Unreserved,UnappropriatedFundBalance..........................2.41%..................2.99%asaPercentofTotalBudget

4

Budget Overview(Presented in State required format)

Program

Total Budget

General Support 11,099,964 10,489,785 9,998,555 75,268,855 71,864,628 68,343,718

Capital $15,784,154 $16,010,714 $13,697,600

$102,152,973 $98,365,127 $92,039,873

Capital Includes operation and maintenance of facilities and related debt service

Proposed Budget 2008-2009 Adopted Budget 2007-2008 Adopted Budget 2006-2007 Plant Operations(Supt. of Building and Grounds, staff,

plant operation and maintenance)

$7,512,519 $7,287,847 $7,128,729

Debt Service(Principal and interest on serial bonds

and bond anticipation notes)

Employee Benefits(Including GASB pension obligation increase)

Refund of Taxes(Reimbursement of property taxes resulting from

assessment-related court settlements)

6,295,299

1,801,336

175,000

6,718,638

1,729,229

275,000

4,762,406

1,606,465

200,000

Total Capital$15,784,154 $16,010,714 $13,697,600

Proposed Budget 2008-2009 Adopted Budget 2007-2008 Adopted Budget 2006-2007

5

ProgramThe primary function of a school district is the instructional program of its children.

It is the largest expenditure category in the budget. It includes instructional supplies, materials, and equipment.


Instruction(Regular day school, physical education, music,

technology education, academically talented and vocational programs continuing education,

and summer school)

HandicappedInstruction

(Special education and special schools for children with special needs)

Pupil Services(Attendance, guidance, health services,

psychologists, and social workers)

Co-curricular and Athletics

(Faculty advisor stipends and fees for student activities outside of the regular classroom)

Transportation(Includes all costs for the approximately 8,873 students bused to our public, non public, and

special education schools for regular day instruction)

Employee Benefits(Including GASB pension obligation)

Transfer to School Lunch and Special Aid Fund

(Pays for district’s share of grant awards)

$37,859,644 $35,907,619 $34,064,493

10,792,246 10,705,642 10,598,860

3,641,991 3,428,246 3,241,455

1,394,953 1,295,663 1,224,231

6,460,794 6,007,437 5,831,672

275,000 270,000 140,000

14,844,227 14,250,021 13,243,007

Total Program$75,268,855 $71,864,628 $68,343,718

�

General Support (Includes non-instructional appropriations for services, materials, and equipment needed to support the district’s instructional program)

(Presented in state-required format)

Board of Education (Annual election/budget vote, Board of Education

office/meetings, District Clerk, legal notices, dues, workshops)

$142,188 $134,000 $127,554

Superintendent’s Office (Superintendent, secretary, conferences, dues)

254,403 254,383 228,831

Financial and Business Management

(Treasurer, assistant manager-finance and computer services, purchasing agent, clerical staff,

auditors, tax collection)

1,000,526 876,615 850,731

Staff and Central Services

(Asst. Supt. Human Resources, school attorney, clerical staff,

community information, central printing, BOCES data processing contract)

2,608,958 2,381,866 2,342,254

Instructional Administration

(Asst. Superintendent, elementary and secondary principals, assistant principals,

supervision, regular school, continuing education, summer school, alternative education,

and staff development)

5,204,305 5,028,976 4,764,018

Employee Benefits (Including GASB pension obligation, hospitalization

and medical insurance, retirement, workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance,

and social security)

1,889,584 1,813,945 1,685,167

Total General$11,099,964 $10,489,785 $9,998,555


7

Proposition No. 2(Purchase of School Buses) YES NO

Shall the Board of Education of the West.Seneca.Central.School.District.be.

authorized to expend $653,684 from the District’s existing capital reserve fund known as the “Bus Purchase Reserve Fund” (as established by the vote of the qualified voters of

the District on May 21, 2002).for.the.purchase of four 66-passenger school

buses at an estimated maximum cost of $88,500 each and seven

20-passenger school buses at an estimated maximum cost of $42,812 each,.with.such.buses.to.be.used.in.the.transportation.program.of.the.

District,.and.with.the.result.of.such.expenditure from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund having NO impact on

the tax levy of the District?

Proposition No. 2The Capital Reserve Fund referred to is a savings account established by voter approval to be used exclusively for future bus purchases.

Voter authorization is required to expend monies out of a voter-approved Capital Reserve Fund. Each year, the district chooses to spend from this reserve..

THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURE FROM THIS ACCOUNT WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE TAX LEVY OF THE DISTRICT.

The following analysis projects the bus reserve flow of savings and bus purchases:

Year Bus Purchases Interest and Aid Received Bus Reserve

July 1, 2003

2003-2004

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

0

0

$558,992

630,503

576,065

610,653

0

$262, 494

1,278,471

823,449

1,479,076

100,838

1,464,123

1,726,617

2,446,096

2,639,042

3,542,053

3,032,238

Fast facts about our Transportation Department

Our fleet of buses travels 1,243,000 miles every year

Public and private school transportation is provided on 88 different routes to 125 school sites listed in Western New York

Our drivers transport more than 8,268 students each school day

New bus drivers undergo 50 hours of training and must complete a 30-hour State Education Department course in his or her first year of employment

2008-2009 653,684 60,000 2,438,554

(Purchase of School Buses)

8

Fiscal Accountability Supplement*

The report below refers to certain expenditure ratios for both general education and special education students. The N.Y. State Education Department has computed values to produce the required comparison statistics. This report contains the computed values for this district along with comparison statistics.

2005-06 School YearWest Seneca School District

General Education

Special Education

InstructionalExpenditures

Pupils

$6,724Expenditures per pupil $17,685

7,510 1,048

$50,498,029 $18,533,553

Similar District Group

InstructionalExpenditures $7,148,620,066

Pupils

$2,479,525,348

851,137 115,463


All Public Schools in New York State

InstructionalExpenditures $25,418,059,645

Pupils

$8,990,169,173

2,772,347 402,175


OnApril9,2009theGovernorandtheNewYorkStateLegislatureenactedthe2008-09statebudget.AnincreaseinstateaidwasapprovedforWestSenecaschools.Manyquestionshavebeenraisedabouttherelationshipbetweenthestateaidincreaseandourschoolbudgettaxincrease.

WhentheWestSenecaSchoolBoardadoptedthe2008-09SchoolDistrictBudgetonApril7,2008,theDistrictwasfullyawareoftheanticipatedstateaidincrease,andhadfactoreditintoouroriginalbudgetestimates.Wehadbudgetedstateaidtobeapproximately$44,921,658whichrepresentedanincreaseof$2,676,001overthe2007-08stateaidbudget.Ourreviewofthestate-aidpackageapprovedonApril9,2008revealedthatourgeneralfundportionofstateaidisestimatedtobe$44,886,539.(TheUniversalPre-KindergartenGrantof$924,700isnotgeneralfundmoneyandcannotbeusedtoreducetaxes.)ThedifferencebetweenourestimateandtheactualStateaidresultsinashortfallfortheDistrictof$35,119.ThisamountwillbeabsorbedbytheavailableSchoolDistrictfundbalance.

ThefollowinganalysiswilldemonstratehowtheSchoolDistricttaxlevy(theamounttobecollectedintaxes)isaffectedbythestateaidincrease:

Proposed budget increase.................................................................................................. $3,787,846Less: Additional state aid and other revenues including fund balance........................(3,024,743)Add: Reduction in payments in lieu of taxes and .............................................................. 299,575 Estimated interest earning revenues................................................................... 756,500Net tax levy increase...........................................................................................................$1,819,178

Thetaxlevywouldhavebeenreducedfurtherifinterestrateshadnotcomedownrecently.Ourinterestearningswillnotreachthelevelsthatwehaveexperiencedoverthelasttwoyears.Overall,theresultanttaxrateincreaseisexpectedtobe2.49%.

Ashasbeenstatedatseveralofourpublicbudgetmeetings,ourgoaltoreduceclasssizetoimprovestudentachievementisadirectresponsetothestatebudget’stargetedpurposeofprovidingadditionalstateaidtoschooldistrictstohelpreduceclasssizeandimprovestudentachievement.

Finally,themostrecentanalysisoftaxratesinErieCountyindicatesthattheWestSenecaCentralSchoolDistrictranks14thoutofthe28ErieCountyschooldistrictsintaxrateper$1,000offullvaluation.Our2005-06taxrateof$17.47per$1,000offullvaluationwas$.41belowthecountyaverageof$17.88andour2006-2007taxrateof$16.96was$.54belowthecountyaverageof$17.50.Asummaryofourmostrecenttaxratesper$1,000offullvaluationfollows: Tax Impact on Tax Rate a $100,000 Home Basic STAR Savings Net Tax2005-06 $17.47 $1,747 $523 $1,2242006-07 $16.96 $1,696 $540 $1,1562007-08 $16.89 $1,689 $520 $1,1692008-09* $17.31 $1,731 $533 $1,198*Estimated

Our net tax impact proposed for 2008-09 is still lower than the net tax impact from 2005-06.

IMPACT OF INCREASE OF STATE AID ON THE 2008-09 BUDGET

9

Gwendolyn A. Phillips I have been a resident of the town of West Seneca for many years. My son is currently attending East Elementary, where he is in the 6th grade and has benefitted from many of the programs.West.Seneca.has.to.offer.such.as.Odyssey of the Mind, band performances, Math Around Town, Boy Scouts, and plays East Summer Lacrosse and Winter Modified Lacrosse Programs. I have volunteered in the following capacities:n Board member of East Elementary PTO

2003 – 07 as Vice President and Presidentn Served on the District Parent Council

Committee 2004–2007n Currently a member of the District

Public Relations Committee since 2005n Board member of West Seneca Sharks

since 2006, president since 2007n Co-Captain of a Relay for Life team

since 2004 I have since returned to the work force.as.a.recruiter..I.am.thankful.for.the.opportunities.that.West.Seneca.has.afforded my family and me, and I am very committed.to.making.a.difference.

Janice E. Dalbon Member of Parent Groups when

children.were.going.through.West.Seneca.schools.

n. Her.four.children,.Heather,.Tom,.Elaine,.and.Jonathan.graduated.from.West.Senior

n Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education;.lifelong.educator

n Member of the Executive Board for the West.Seneca.Youth.Court

n Represents Area 16 of Odyssey of the Mind at New York State meetings

n With husband, Rev. Tom Dalbo, serves at Winchester Community Church as children’s ministry director and also director.of.music

n Served as area representative on the State School Boards Legislative Network

n. Trustee.for.the.West.Seneca.Historical.Society

n First elected to the Board of Education – 1988

n Activity assistant at Eden Heights of West.Seneca

Daniel P. Dunn My name is Daniel Dunn. My wife Cheryl and I have three children.and.deep.roots.in.the.West.Seneca.community. I have served on various town and school-based clubs and committees for years including Little Loop Football, Beep Reviewer, DECA Judge, and the Lions Club where.I’m.soon.to.be.past.president.. I have near 100% attendance in everything I belong to. I enjoy looking at new and innovative ways of raising revenue and cutting expenses, without cutting.critical.programs.that.our.kids.need to succeed in today’s world. I hope my work habits, unique perspective, and commitment to a reasonable approach in decision-making merit your support on May 20.

School Board Candidates

10

Gail M. Hoppe I’m Gail Hoppe, and my family and I have lived here for 5 ½ years. I’ve been married for 13 years and have five children. Three.of.our.children.attend.East Elementary. I have been involved with the kindergarten and first-grade literacy program there, and committed.a.summer.to.teaching children literacy skills.through.a.summer.literacy institute. . I am currently the Christian.education.coordinator.at.our.church.and have served on the church.board..I.was.also.privileged to be a parent representative on an interview committee at East Elementary. To serve our district would.be.an.honor!

David G. Smaczniak Public education is not just my profession, it is my passion. It has been my pleasure to serve as a member of the school board for the last nine years. I was honored to serve as president for three years and as vice president for two, as well as being a member of various committees. I am a lifelong resident and a graduate of the West Seneca CSD. I obtained my bachelor and.two.master’s.degrees.from.Canisius.College..I.am.an.administrator in the Frontier school system.n Chosen by school districts of Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, and

Wyoming counties as Area 1 Director for the New York State School Board.

n Active with the Erie County Association of School Boards as an Executive Committee member, team leader, and presenter.

n Board member on the Promoting Partners in Public Education Foundation and member of the WNED ThinkBright Advisory Board.

n Former member of Erie 1 BOCES Board of Educationn Member of the Board of Directors of the West Seneca Development

Corporationn Active member of St. Philip the Apostle Parish and many other

community organizations. I believe that public education must be willing to face changing times. The WSCD consistently meets this challenge while.keeping.in.mind.our.mission.and.our.economic.responsibilities. I believe the better the schools, the better the community, the better the value of our homes! I ask that you consider voting for me and to please support our budget. Thank you!

Stacy P. Miller I consider myself to be an independent.thinker,.a.person.of creativity and passion who makes.thoughtful.decisions..As.an.alumni.and.parent.of.two.elementary school students, I value the people who teach and learn.in.our.district,.and.as.a.taxpayer, I expect tax dollars to be wisely spent. I have personally invested myself in the WSCSD by:n Partnering with Terri

Linsner.to.form.West.Playground Pals, Inc. which raised $100,000 in one year to build the West Elementary playground.

n Serving as president and secretary of the West Elementary PTA.

n Acting as volunteer coordinator.of.West.Elementary’s literacy program..

. I.hope.to.continue.to.make.a.difference.

School Board Candidates

11

Susan E. Mayn Married (James) 33 years — three

children,.two.grandchildrenn West Seneca resident for 33 yearsn Sweet Home Central Graduaten Member of the Executive Board for

the.West.Seneca.Youth.Courtn Longtime U.S. Postal Service

employeen Currently employed at the Buffalo

Psychiatric Centern. Member.of.CSEAn Member of the CSEA PEOPLE

Committee.n On Board of Directors at Jelly Bean

Junction Absentee BallotsHow do you get an absentee ballot? Just follow the steps below.

1. Request an Application: Absentee ballots may be issued only if your application is on file with the school district. Call or write the district clerk’s office, 1397 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca, NY 14224 or call 677-3136 for an application. Requests for applications may be made no earlier than 30 days preceding the vote and not later than 7 days before the vote. For the May 20 Budget Vote, requests for applications for an absentee ballot may be made up to and including May 13.

2. Return Your Application: After filling out the application for an absentee ballot, you must return it to the district clerk’s office located in Room 200 at the West Elementary School. It may be mailed or hand-delivered, but if it is to be mailed , the application must be received at least 7 days before the election, to enable sufficient time for the ballot to be mailed and returned.

3. Fill Out Your Ballot and Turn It In: Assuming the above instructions have been properly completed and you have qualified for an absentee ballot, you will receive a ballot in the mail, which will take the same basic form as that inside the voting machine. Follow the instructions on the ballot and either mail it or hand-deliver it to the district clerk’s office. However, it must be received by the district clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote (May 20, 2008). If you have any questions, call Mrs. Marlene Leone at 677-3136.

Students with Disabilitiesin the West Seneca Central School District*

The report below refers to the percentage for students with disabilities for the District. The N.Y. State Education Department has computed values for these statistics for each district and for the state. The report outlined below contains these required values for this District and statewide comparison values.

West Seneca StatewideStudent Counts as of December 1, 2006

Student Placement20% or Less21% to 60%

More than 60%Separate Settings

(Time outside a regular classroom)

Count of Students with

Disabilities

Percentage of Students with

Disabilities

Percentage of Students with

Disabilities

465

190

301

35

46.6%

19.0%

30.2%

3.5%

53.5%

13.0%

24.7%

6.3%

* The source data for the statistics in this table were reported on the Required Report of the Number of Students with Disabilities Provided Special Education in Regular School-based Programs and in Separate Settings, and in Other Settings (PD-1/4). The counts are numbers of students reported in the several placements for school-age programs (ages 6-21) on December 1, 2006. The PD-1/4 reports the proportion of time students are outside general education classrooms, regardless of the amount and cost of special education services they receive. Rounding of percentage values may cause them to sum to a number slightly different from 100%.

Other Settings 7 0.7% 2.5%

School-age Students with Disabilities Classification Rate 2006-07 This District* Total of All Public School Districts*

Resident Classification Rate 11.66% 12.4%* This rate is the ratio of the count of school-age (4-21) residents in the district who are classified as having disabilities, divided by a computed measure of the total district-resident school-age population (including public school students, nonpublic students, and students receiving home instruction). Source data are drawn from the School District Report of the Number of Students with Disabilities (PD-1/4) and the Basic Education Data System.

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Annual Election and Budget Vote7 am - 9 pm Tuesday • May 20, 2008

East Senior High School, 4760 Seneca Street

For the more information, visit us at www.wscschools.org

Q: Who can vote?A: To vote, you must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the

United States, and a school district resident for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

Q: What should I bring to the voting place?A: Please bring your proper identification (a driver’s license or

satisfactory verification of name and address).

Q: Should I pre-register?A: No, pre-registration is not required. If you have not voted in the

past, please be sure to bring proper identification.

Q: I live in an apartment. Can I vote?A: Yes. You do not have to own a home to vote. Tenants must bring

satisfactory proof of name and address.

Q: Can I vote if I will be out of town?A: Yes, qualified voters may be issued an absentee ballot.

Information regarding these ballots is located on Page 9 of this publication.

Q: Where is the polling place?A: East Senior High School, located at 4760 Seneca Street. Please

enter from the rear of the building (closest to the gymnasium).

(estimated) $1010 $17

Documents