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…