"New" money for schools

Question: Now that B-P has received "new" money, how will that impact the school taxes?  How can the B-P school business administrator also be the purchasing agent for the Amsterdam School District?

Answer: The short answer to your first question is, it won't affect school taxes. The "new" money you're referring to comes from two sources: the Federal Education Jobs Act, and Race to the Top (RTTT). Although complete guidelines for the funds haven't been released, both sets of money come with "strings." Broadalbin-Perth will be receiving $750,000 from the Federal Education Jobs Act, and that money has to be used by the end of the 2011-12 school year to "create or maintain jobs." B-P will receive approximately $65,000 from RTTT, which should be just enough to cover whatever mandates end up being attached to that money. So, according to the government guidelines that come with the money, neither set of funds can be used for school tax relief.

As for your question about Amsterdam's purchasing agent, that's my dad. His first name is also Marco, so I can understand your confusion.
- answered by Marco Zumbolo, School Business Administrator