At a school board meeting last week packed with informational presentations about the internet and genetic studies, district superintendent Mary Jo McPhail addressed an item on the agenda: Preliminary 2000-2001 Budget Report.

"At the end of last week we firmed up the expense side of the budget," said McPhail. "The revenue side will be significantly more problematic. I don't think that the state budget will be in place when you find yourself faced with having to establish the tax levy."

McPhail said she is predicting fiscally trying times.

"Should the budget be shot down," the superintendent said, "and we have to go to a contingent budget, it can't increase more than four percent over last year's."

McPhail also spoke about the harsh realities of the state's current funding situation.

She informed the board that the ten percent bonus that allowed the school to award bids for facility improvement that same night may be in danger of disappearing because "Governor Pataki wants to reneg on the deal."

"He thinks that schools should just refinance and take longer to pay the work off," McPhail said.