Senator Gallivan & Assemblywoman Byrnes Introduce Bill to Help Mount Morris CSD

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C-I, Elma) and Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R-C, Caledonia) have introduced legislation (S.5649/A.7762) to relieve the Mount Morris Central School District of financial penalties related to capital improvement projects dating back to 1999.  A delay in the filing of final cost reports has resulted in a penalty to the school of $2,457,364.

“The school district and local taxpayers should not face such a significant financial penalty for a paperwork error that occurred several years ago and was made by individuals no longer associated with the school,” Senator Gallivan said.  “Forcing the district to pay this unanticipated expense would have an adverse effect on the district’s budget and the delivery of services to students.”

“This administrative error should not be the determining factor for raising the entire school districts taxes,” said Assemblywoman Byrnes. “Mount Morris Central School and the education of its students will suffer if the district is forced to lay off staff and cut programs to pay off these debts. Our taxpayers and students should not be affected by one individual’s failures.”

The penalty is based on a series of oversights that occurred over the course of several years in relation to a building project in 1999. 

Despite the majority of the Mount Morris School District being located outside Senator Gallivan’s 59^th Senate District, he is working with Assemblywoman Byrnes and school administrators to resolve the issue as the 57^th Senate District seat is currently vacant.

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