Penfield Central School District 2012-13 Budget Survey
Progress: 
 

The Penfield Central School District values your input and welcomes your participation in our annual budget process. Our focus continues to be on balancing the needs of our outstanding educational program with the need to be fiscally responsible. Decreasing state aid and the new property tax levy limit will continue to impact revenues to the district and will lead to some difficult decisions during our budget process. Your assistance in establishing priorities for the district is vital as we move through this process. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us by completing this brief survey.

 
 
1.

What information is most important to help you make an informed decision regarding the 2012-2013 budget? Please be specific.

 
 

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2.

What are your primary sources of budget information? (Check all that apply)

 
Budget newsletter
District website
Board of Education meetings
PTA meetings/publications
The Penfield Post
The Democrat and Chronicle
Television news
Spouse
Friends and neighbors
District staff
Students
3.

In addition to the core curriculum, which three (3) of the following programs, services, activities and/or initiatives do you feel should be maintained as a high priority in future budgets?

 
Music
Remedial academic support
Clubs/Extracurricular
Athletics
Gifted Education
AP/Honors
Art
Special Education
Technology
Electives
4.

Reduced state aid for schools and the new property tax levy limit will force difficult decisions. Please assist us by indicating your priorities in Questions 4 through 7.

Which is more important:

 
Maintaining educational programming similar to other high achieving Monroe County school districts
Budget Savings
5.

Which is more important:

 

 
Maintaining school infrastructure, buildings and grounds, transportation
Budget Savings
6.

Which is more important:

 
Maintaining class sizes, electives and other non-mandated programs
Budget Savings
7.

Which is more important:

 

 
Maintaining programs and services for students
A tax levy increase at or below the 2% threshold
8.

In accordance with NYS law, reserves are created when the district has not expended all available funds at the end of the year. These reserves and the undesignated fund balance are used for specific expenses (i.e. bus purchases, capital projects, etc.) and to support the general fund in lieu of collecting additional taxes. Please rate your priorities for the use of reserves:

 
 Low Somewhat Low Average Somewhat High High 
Undesignated reserves should be used to reduce taxes in the short term
Undesignated reserves should be used to offset program cuts
Undesignated reserves should be used to ensure tax stabilization over the long-term
9.

The tax levy supports approximately 65% of our annual operating budget. Please rate your priorities regarding taxes:

 
 Low Somewhat Low Average Somewhat High High 
The district should maintain moderate/limited growth in taxes in order to maintain programs
The district should reduce programs and keep tax increases to a minimum
The district should reduce programs significantly in order to lower taxes