Feedback: Defeated Carthage Budget Still Stirring Controversy

Even though voters in the Carthage Central School District have overwhelmingly rejected the district’s proposed $49.9 million spending plan, controversy over the budget isn’t going away.

The decision to adopt a contingency budget or put together a new spending will be made later this week, but there are already concerns about who gets to make that decision and how it will be made.

More than 2,100 people turned out to vote.

They said no to the budget by a six to one margin.

“I’m glad they voted no because a lot of the people can’t afford it,” said district resident Wendy Childers.

They said no to new school buses and extra library spending.

But, most of all they voted against the proposed tax levy increase of 7%.

“Our taxes are high enough. With the increase prices of gas and stuff like that, this is not a very rich area,” said district resident Pete Greaves.

Three school board seats were also up for grabs in Carthage and all three incumbents were ousted by large margins.

The incumbents voted out in Carthage were Lori Haberman, Paul Marolf and Tina Paragon Soukup.

The three new school board members are William Sochia, Michael Chevier and Mary Louise Hunt.

Sochia thinks the district can do better when it comes to cutting spending.

“It’s not enough. We have to explore some issues and go back and do what’s best for the community,” he said.

However, Sochia won’t have a say in how to do improve the proposed budget because it’s up to the old board, which is closing the door again on the discussion of what to do about the budget now.

“I would like to see some of the public show up tomorrow night at the meeting to possibly push the issue to get into the meeting. This is the school belongs to the community, not the board,” said Michael Chevier.

As for school officials on the day after the big defeat?

School board president John Peck said he didn’t want to talk to the media Wednesday.

Superintendent Carl Militello said the board will have to discuss personnel cuts during Thursday night’s closed door meeting.

See Alexandra Field’s report:

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