To the Editor:

It’s appalling that the Guilderland Central School District has proposed another budget increase. While town residents struggle with business closures and record unemployment the time has finally come for the school district to hunker down and make do like the rest of us.

Exacerbating the preposterous proposal is the fact that, when compared to Bethlehem schools — a district GCSD likes to use as a tax-rate comparison in its mailers — Guilderland’s offerings fall woefully short; a cafeteria that doubles as an auditorium at Farnsworth Middle School, a complete absence of swimming pools, busing field hockey players offsite, etc. — all this and more despite the fact that we taxpayers hand over more money each year for as long as anyone can remember.

So here’s my proposal to the school board: Show the residents that you’re smart, savvy leaders that can manage your business without asking your beleaguered clients for more cash — yet again.

Steven Hammes

Guilderland