Massena Central faced with tough upcoming budget year

By Andy Gardner

MASSENA – The Massena Central School District is looking at “a tough budget year” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loren Fountaine, who chairs the Board of Education’s Finance Committee, gave his perspective during the full board’s Thursday, Dec. 17 meeting.

“I think we all know we’re in for a tough budget year, probably for the next three years minimum,” he said.

Shortfalls in tax revenue at the state level have left Massena’s town and village boards preparing for a 20% cut in state aid. Both made mid-year cuts to their budgets in anticipation of the cuts, and the town had a difficult time last month crafting their 2021 budget. It slightly raised taxes and the tax rate. School districts could be looking at a similar situation.

“We’re taking a look at everything. We’re going to do the best we can to maintain our programs,” Fountaine said.

He said the federal government being deadlocked on passing a second pandemic stimulus package isn’t good news for schools and creates “a lot of unknowns.”

“As of right now, there’s more questions than answers, but things aren’t looking good,” Fountaine said