Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 5A

POUQHKEEPSIE JOURMA1 MONDAY. MARCH 22. 2004 METRO STATE 5A Backing Indians on taxes A "TV SLY 'i A iv'V'YY 31ft fl I i The Associated Pre Protesters line Route 20 Sunday in Irving, Chautauqua County, on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, to show support for the Seneca Nation of Indians' refusal to pay New York state taxes from the sale of gasoline and cigarettes on the reservation. State leaders could reduce governor's budget power School merger interest rising, fueled by higher taxes, standards The Associated Prats ALBANY School officials are renewing interest in district mergers after recent years of double digit local tax bills and the need for more resources to meet the state's higher academic standards, according to the state Education Department. "I think we have to look everywhere in government and in school systems to consolidate because there is just too much spending in every direction," state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said.

New York has about 700 school districts with separate administrations and other operations far more than most states'. Many other states have countywide districts, while New York has a half dozen or more in most of its 62 counties, sometimes two in a single town. Nationwide, many states are urging even mandating school district consolidations, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This year, Arkansas' legislature identified 57 of its 300 districts to consolidate, NCSL Senior Policy Specialist Steve Smith said. 'There's a continuing shift to try to consolidate school districts and that's been going on for 50 plus years and there's no end in sight," Smith said.

"I've seen an increase in calls for consolidation, but there's been more calls than action. Ifs a very contentious issue." Unions play major role In New York, some of that tension is usually avoided by agreements to spare the biggest cost: Employees in powerful unions. The result is that short term savings are rare in consolidations and un proven in the long term, state Education Specialist Suzanne Spear said "In most cases, there's a commitment not to reduce any stafffor two or three years," Spear said. "Many of the staff come from the community they are often the people who are voting, or relatives of the people who are voting." The revived interest in meters this year is mostly fueled by smaller districts needing greater resources or enrollment to maintain language and other harder to maintain programs or even to field sports teams and offer other extracurricular activities. "I think if that commitment weren't there, you'd find staff become very active," she said.

"Very often the unions take an interest in it." Layoffs in what is often the biggest employer in smaller districts may also not be in the community's interest, David Ernst of the state School Boards Association said. He agreed layoffs could threaten consolidation votes and "some savings is better than no savings," especially when merger can substantially increase the offerings to students. Longer term savings could be realized by not filling unnecessary positions created by retirement or resignations. State law requires superintendents who lose jobs in consolidation to be paid until their contracts expire, "I think it's foolish for two people to be doing the same job if it can be done by one person," Jason Brooks of the conservative Foundation for Reform and' Accountability said. Although he said he sympathizes with wanting to protect workers, "It somewhat defeats the purpose of consolidation." Still, mergers usually save local taxpayers some money thanks to temporary state funding.

Most mergers use about a third of a 40 percent increase in state operating aid created to encourage con soUdations. That lasts for five years, then the aid is reduced by 4 percent each year until it ends after 14 years. From 1947 to 1980, the number of school districts dropped from 5,050 in New York to about 700. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was an average of 15 consolidations a year, or about 30 in two decades. After no mergers in more than five years, communities this year approved the consolidations of the Eastport and South Manor districts on Long Island and the Canisteo and Greenwood districts in Steuben County.

The Dolgeville and Oppenheim Ephratah districts near Utica have begun the formal process that could lead to consolidation, Spear said. Among other districts showing interest are the Scio and Friendship districts on the Southern Tier, which last week announced they are considering a merger. More than a few merger proposals have been defeated simply because of fights over the school mascot or opposition to combining longtime rival sports teams, or a fervent defense of local controL Bloomberg may consider ending social promotion in all grades NEW YORK Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he would consider holding back failing students in all grades if his plan to end social promotion in third grade proved successful. "I am talking about doing a good job with this group of third graders and then looking and seeing what we learned and how we can apply what we learned to all children," he said. "I think if we can show that you really can make a difference for all the problems that these kids have and remember, a lot of these kids were really dealt a bad hand by God then it sets the blueprint," he said.

Last week, Bloomberg stirred controversy when he fired several appointees on the Panel for Educational Policy because they would have voted against his plan to end social promotion for third graders There is Still Time to get 0 i Al I HI an Huove urguna ruui incinnan Hornra Momnr ni inv But hurry Installation dates 10U70 are sellina out fasti Financing 462 2669 est. 69 ifiunnnnic www. lunvrvv iWBf.com Legislature leaders contemplate changes Th Associated Prats ALBANY Under the cover of a joint state Senate Assembly conference committee aimed at ending late state budgets, leaders of the state Legislature are eyeing changes that could reduce Gov. George Pataki's dominance over fiscal matters. The plans, among other things, call for the Legislature to have more Control over the budgets of New York's giant public authorities and over a multi billion dollar Health Care Reform Act adopted at the behest of Republican Pataki in early 2002.

"Both of those are fiefdoms completely under the control of the executive now," said Frank Mauro, head of the unioi backed Fiscal Policy Institute think tank and a former top fiscal adviser to the state Assembly's Democratic majority. The conference committee is also eyeing a provision that would bar the governor from including amendments to state law in appropriation proposals a practice has previously led to lawsuits against Pataki. Thus far, the governor has prevailed in court. Letter highlights problem The potential for a new showdown between the two branches began to come into focus last week with the public release of a March 2 letter from Pataki's budget director, Carole Stone, to the leaders of the budget reform conference committee. The main thrust of the correspondence was Stone's objections to the committee's plan to shift the start of the state fiscal year to May from April She said July 'The goal is not necessarily to shift the power, as much as it is putting a little sunshine on the budget submission Sheldon Silver stale Assembly speaker 1 would make more sense.

But in her letter, Stone also said she had "reservations about several other items in the bills as they are currently drafted," including "the scope and practicality of the many new reporting requirements imposed on the state." While state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said Friday the goal is "not necessarily to shift the power, as much as it is putting a little sunshine on the budget submission process," the Manhattan Democrat conceded, It would give the governor more hurdles to go through." State Sen. John Kuhl a Steuben County Republican who serves on the conference committee, said it is only right for the Legislature to have more involvement in fiscal matters involving public authorities and other entities. "Maybe it does cut into some of the deal making that a governor can do. Well, we're supposed to be part and parcel of the process," Kuhl said. Many lawmakers feel governors in general, and not just Pataki, have had too much influence over fiscal matters, he said.

In New York, governors have been the dominant force in budgeting since Al Smith convinced New Yorkers to approve a state constitutional amendment in 1927 creating the Executive Budget process. While Smith never got to enjoy the fruits of his labor Franklin Delano Roosevelt submitted the first Executive Budget proposal to the Legislature in 1929 New York's governors have had the upper hand in fiscal matters ever since. In the 1970s, under the leadership of the late Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink and former state Senate Majority Leader Warren Anderson, both chambers did dramatically upgrade their fiscal staffs in order to level the playing field a bit. More fiscal data planned Under the plans being contemplated by Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, a Rensselaer County Republican, the two houses' fiscal committees and the public would obtain substantial new fiscal information. That, in turn, would allow lawmakers to exert some control over public authorities that run everything from huge electrical power projects to mass transit systems.

Nonetheless, the stated top priority of lawmakers remains putting an end to the state's chronically late budgets. Come April 1, New York is expected to have its 20th straight late budget. While Stone said Friday she did have some differences with some things the Legislature is contemplating "Do we really need more reports?" she asked the Pataki budget director sought to downplay the areas of disagreement "We all come into something like budget reform with variations on a theme, and there's a lot that can fall under that rubric," she said, adding "there's really a lot more that we have in common" and which has been pushed in the past by Pataki The Senate Assembly conference committee is supposed to wind up its work before the end of the month. QDDortunltles Jobs I Cosmetology Halrcutting Styling Make Up wjAAmmMimiia Don't let a staircase stand between you and the rest of your home! A Jfe, semT STAIRLIFTS WHEELCHAIR UFTS HOME ELEVATORS a 1 800 228 1779 vrmw.TmmiirwTfii advanced focusing implantable lens, can help you enjoy life to the fullest by continuously changing focus to accommodate your everyday activitfes at far distances, at arms length or up close without glasses! EY. MTzmmx? VISION CORRECTION Satish S.

Modi, M.D., F.R.C.S. (C) 23 Davis Avenue Poughkeepsie NY 1 2603 Cedlwood Health Center 969 Main Street Fishkill NY 1 2524 raas, mm A A '11 in city schools. Bloomberg won the crucial vote 8 5. Opponents including parents' organizations called Bloomberg's actions a brazen power play and said retaining students would make them slaves to standardized tests and decrease morale. Schools Chancellor Joel Klein defended Bloomberg's actions.

"When you're appointed (to the panel), you serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority" le, the mayor, Klein said Sunday. He said he had heard no convincing arguments for continuing to advance unprepared students. "If you're promoting a child that can't read and isn't ready for the next grade, that is a one way ticket to trouble," he said. He estimated between 15,000 and 18,000 third graders could be hed back under the The Associated Press 2.00 APY MONEY MARKET IRA i i ty A Rsfo iMftS ROLL OVER INTO SOMETHING MORE COMFORTABLE. For a limited time, Wachovia is offering a Money Market IRA rate to help balance your retirement portfolio.

Take advantage of this rate today with a deposit of $50,000 or more, and you can enjoy the comfort and peace of mind that comes with FDIC insurance. Talk to us today! For more information on this and other great retirement options, visit your local "Wachovia Financial Center or call 800 690 8505. 1 v. WACHOVIA Uncommon Wisdom 1 w4 'AnniW Pe'itsntagryield (APY) Is available and accurati of March 2004; and subject to change without notice after account oponlnj Offer jnayi modified 6r ''discontinued at any time, without notice. Fees could reduce earnings.

Not valid with any other offer. Available for Money Market IRA accounts only and not for Self Directed Money Market with Sweep Accounts, funds must be NEW to Wachovia, 2004 Wachovia Corporation, Wachovia Bank, N. and Wachovia Bank of Delaware, A are Members FDIC. A.