PCS Superintendent Interview

The Potsdam Central School Superintendent was recently interviewed about the fiscal problems facing the district. See:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTJ4BowJUQk

The interview was made possible as part of North Country Matters, a local video magazine produced by WCKN under the direction of Dan Dullea of the Center for Excellence in Communication at Clarkson University.


Potsdam Central finds itself facing a $1.2 million budget deficit for next year. Among the fiscal facts facing PCS - some based on the Governor's proposed budget:

• Health Insurance Costs: Rising to approximately $5,300,000.00 next year - an increase of 13.2%
• Pension Costs: For Teachers - rising to approx.   $1,274,000.00  - an increase of 29.4%
• Pension Costs For CSEA     -  rising to approx.      $600,000.00  - an increase of 23.8%  
• The Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) will provide an additional $310,421 to the district.
• Categorical Aid: (transportation, BOCES, building) expected to decrease by $280,269
• 2% tax cap (unless superseded by a 60% majority)
•  The federal sequester: which will impact the district by $60-$70K next year

 Many thanks to Donna Seymour (from AAUW), and Dan Dullea and his students (from Clarkson University) for their efforts to share important information with the public.