LAFARGEVILLE, New York (WWNY) – School districts across the North Country are asking for help from Albany as energy costs surge, warning that residents could see a tax hike if relief doesn’t come.
LaFargeville Superintendent Travis Hoover said the district’s utility bill jumped from $12,000 in January to $26,000 in February, an increase of $14,000 in one month.
“We’ve already expended what we budgeted for this year for electricity, and we know that’s going to keep going so we’re going to be pulling it out of reserves to make sure those costs are met,” Hoover said.
Other districts facing similar increases
LaFargeville is not the only district seeing higher energy costs.
Sackets Harbor Central School District said its energy bill in January was $19,000, up from $11,000 last January, while only using 8% more energy.
16 districts call for state action
In an effort to find a solution, superintendents from 16 North Country districts wrote a letter to Albany calling for change.
Sackets Harbor Superintendent Jennifer Gaffney helped write the letter calling for energy price regulation, establishing or enhancing assistance programs, and creating an emergency fund for schools struggling with energy costs.
“That is to be shared with our elected officials for the purpose of advocating for an approach to assist public schools to ensure that we are not diverting resources from children to pay our electric bill,” Gaffney said.
Programs and staff at risk
Gaffney said the rising costs threaten school programs and services.
“It’s hard to accomplish our mission, visions, and goals when we have to cut back on programs, services, and people,” Gaffney said.
Hoover said if state help does not come, taxpayers will pay for higher energy bills, not only at home, but at their local schools.
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