Despite receiving hundreds of thousands in state aid this year, positions will be cut from Binghamton City School District. The school board unanimously approved the more than $102 million budget on Tuesday night. The district closed a $5.3 million gap with a tax levy set at 1.89 percent and cut 32 faculty and staff positions. The board also agreed to drop intramural sports and cut elementary music classes from twice in a six day cycle to once. The district received more than $700,000 in state aid for the 2013-14 school year. The district is using that money to replace the one-time revenues the school district was using to fill the budget gap that they had. There is a public hearing on the budget May 7, and voting will take place on May 21.
At the meeting Tuesday, the board received the final tally of votes for MacArthur Elementary. Voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum 1,500 for and 396 against. The district hopes to have the school built and ready for students in the fall 2015.
