At Thursday’s Oswego board of education’s special meeting, the board charged district administrators to bring forward possible cuts for budgets with a 3.5 percent tax rate increase and a 4.7 tax rate increase.

The $66.71 million and $66.59 million budgets were defeated by voters June 17 and May 20,  respectively. The original budget held a 3.81 percent tax rate increase while the amended June 17 budget had a tax rate increase of 5.81 percent. According to head of business for the district, Pete Colucci, the equivalent of 1 percent point for the tax rate is roughly $283,000.

Much discussion ensued at Tuesday evening’s meeting where it was suggested that three major changes be included in the new budget that is due to the state by midnight June 30. This includes eliminating $156,000 allocated for equipment purchase, $45,000 on new marching band uniforms and filling the assistant principal position at the middle school with an administrator already working in the district. Superintendent of Schools David Fischer estimated this would bring the tax rate increase down to 4.47 percent.

The assistant principal position was vacated by Tim Moon after he was promoted to AIS data director, one of the new positions created from the district’s Contract for Excellence funding, which completely covers the cost. This could be filled by an administrator from the education center, Fischer said.

Colucci noted there are certain stipulations the district must follow in dealing with a contingency budget. “The district is required to refrain from making any purchases of equipment … unless it’s health and safety related or related to increases in enrollment,” he said, noting that there are no issues with enrollment increases and currently the district’s equipment is up to code.

Fischer told the board that since the budgets had been put out to vote, the district has leased space in the education center to bring in approximately $60,000 in additional revenue.

Board member Jim Tschudy said he would be in favor of cutting the band uniforms, the equipment and making an administrator transfer, but would want the cuts to stop there. “That would allow us to retain the elementary positions that I think are important for us at this point.”

Board president Maggie Tiballi suggested the board go back to the May 20 budget and make the aforementioned cuts.

“Maggie, I understand what you’re saying, but I think you’re going a little bit too far,” said new board member John Dunsmoor. “I think the public has spoken and they want it lower than that first budget ...”

Dunsmoor said he believes a lot of the people who voted for the budget were in favor of keeping programs alive and well in the district. He suggested that a compromise can be made with the three major cuts suggested Thursday which would allow for some of the 10 positions that were reinstated for the June 17 budget to stay in the new budget to be adopted.

Board member Fred Maxon suggested that for next year’s budget, the board lay out a five-year expenditure plan to better plan for future budgets.

The board will meet at 5 p.m., Tuesday, in the Oswego Middle School mini-theater on Fitzgibbons Boulevard.