Island Dispatch, 2005-05-13

              Island Dispatch Niagara f-1 P/J F»"©nti©«" \jj/ Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch Lewiston-Porter Sentinel Grand Island Penny Saver Niagara-Wheaffield Tribune www.wnypapers.eom Vol. 61 No. 8 *_.00 May 13, 2005 24 Pages For Home Delivery of the . Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 Services for seniors page 3 j " " I Lobsterfest returns page 6 Beautician is guest of honor page 24 A return to rural roots? Couple wants to use wide open spaces for farming by Karen Keefe A Grand Island couple sees a new future for the west side of town - and the future, much like the past, is farming. Ken and Suzanne Semple own 21 acres at the west end of Fix Road. They would like to add cows and chickens to the eight Arabian and Appaloosa horses they now own. They would like to grow more crops. And they would like other Islanders to have a chance to farm to a greater extent than has been possible for decades here. "There used to be award-winning farms on this Island years ago," said Suzanne Semple. Now, she said, there is urban sprawl that destroys wildlife habitats. If more land is used for agriculture, it helps the economy too, she said. If you can produce a certain level of income from a year's farming, you can also become eligible for a tax break. Suzanne Semple talks to two of her horses, Daisy, left, and Mac. The animals are a part of the dream Semple and her husband, Ken, have of using their land for farming and for a therapeutic riding school, (photo by Karen Keefe) Selling the budget Two criticize board's decisions Story and photos by Karen Keefe Only two members of the public spoke following a sparsely attended school budget hearing Monday. Both speakers criticized the School Board for spending money on the wrong things. Resident James Mulcahy said funds spent on salaries for positions such as an assistant superintendent for instruction and for an interim principal at Sidway Elementary are "pure wastes of money that could have been used to lower class sizes." Resident Chris DeMarco said it's wrong to cut popular, suecessfulsuecessful programs such as freshman basketball in order to lower the budget. He said his son had the privilege of playing the sport this past season. "It bothers me to think the young boys who follow won't have the same opportunity," he said Contingency Budget Mulcahy also asked for a clar- ification of, the cost to taxpayers if the district went to a contingency budget. Assistant Superintendent Lora in c Ingrasci told him that would bring a tax decrease. The proposed $43.2 million spending plan carries a 6.27 percent increase over the current year's budget and a 2.8 percent tax increase. The tax rate would rise from the current $35.64 per $1,000 of assessed value to $36.64 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If the proposed budget fails to win voter support, the district would go to a contingency budget, which caps spending at 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index, for a budget increase of 3.24 percent. The budget process began in December and culminated in the board's approval of a budget on April 11. During the process, residents have expressed concerns about the potential of larger class sizes and about any increase in the property tax. Board members have expressed regret over the need for nine f teacher layoffs, ' but the public has been relatively quiet on this matter during the reg- , ular school board \ meetings, even at i the March 7 pub-' lie forum on the J budget. ' Explaining the Value At Monday's i public hearing, Ingrasci gave an explanation of the budget in a PowerPoint presentation. She outlined the process, the district's budget objectives, academicacademic performance, the revenue and expenditure components and the value the district gets for its tax dollars. Ingrasci pointed out that Grand Island has a $10,134 per pupil expenditure, nearly $1,000 lower than the Erie County average. She also cited a positive report card from the state that included elementary performance comparable to similar schools and a middle school performance that exceeds similar Connor Middle School Principal Bruce Benson congratulates Band Director Clarke Elliott, middle, for winning the state's top award as Outstanding Band Director. School Lunch Manager Dennis Donovan, left, looks on. Loraine Ingrasci, assistant superintendent for finance for the Grand Island School District, explains aspects of the proposed 2005-06 budget at a hearing Monday in Veronica Connor Middle School. continued on page 16 continued on page 2 {3H Linda ______ «__ *ssoc'a'e Broker #1 island Agent Company in WNY 743-73*1 or €.28-1719 Q® Do you need to buy or * sell a home? /%, _ Call Linda Kutzbach, _fm_sjjc j(nows how and would love to help you. i j ; n_giM«MMMn| j "^vßsß————__-—_H____—___—_— - •'-• .-. --_ . .., .„._„.-._., .^.. Call Joan i_BBI fora"y°ur K_________ Real Estate j ?_* i___________t__Mn b , ■ _ J i|H_____l Needs! 1