The new state budget includes a provision that is aimed at making school district mergers more attractive, but a group that represents school business officials says more needs to be done. The New York State Association of School Business Officials has released a report on school mergers which looked in depth at 30 school districts that explored merging since 2010, but failed to accomplish reorganization. Among the failed mergers that were studied...last year's Brocton-Westfield vote. Executive Director Michael Borges says among the top factors...the loss of identity.
Borges-Loss of identity is major factor
Borges says the new state budget does address one of the obstacles to consolidation...the disparity in tax rates among merging districts. The new law would allow districts with differing tax rates after the merger to have the impact deferred for a one-year period or phased-in over a longer period of time, up to ten years as determined by the participating school boards. While saying the new incentive may help, Borges says the group has developed several recommendations that they believe would foster more mergers including the need to update merger aid.
Borges-Merger aid needs to be updated
Borges says while school district mergers may generate some savings for districts under 1,500 students, the chief benefit is that students would have greater access to educational programs that would not be available in small school districts.
