CARTHAGE — Six municipal leaders say they want to tell residents the truth about school district spending and that's why they drafted a second letter to the Carthage Central School District on Friday.

[Click here to read the letter in its entirety.]

"We are writing today to clear up a few items that maybe misunderstood and also to continue to let the residents know the true facts about this year's budget proposal," the letter starts.

The letter goes on to question the "quality and accuracy of the information provided to the residents and taxpayers." The increase in the tax levy, the spending of the fund balance and the way the public was treated at the public hearing Tuesday also are called into question in the letter.

The letter was signed by West Carthage Mayor Scott M. Burto, Carthage Village President G. Wayne McIlroy, town of Champion Supervisor Terry L. Buckley, town of Wilna Councilman Michael F. Storms, town of Rutland Supervisor Gary D. Eddy and village of Black River Mayor Leland J. Carpenter, all of whom also signed the first letter drafted mid-April to school Superintendent Carl H. Militello and Board of Education President John E. Peck.

"We wanted to follow up and let everyone in the public know that enough cuts weren't made and that we're still concerned about the way some of the information has been portrayed to the public," Mr. Burto said. "We just want people to know the facts and figures before they vote Tuesday and we hope they understand that we didn't intend this to be an attack on Carl or Mr. Peck — this is just because we're concerned for the taxpayers."

The first letter was answered by a letter from Mr. Militello and Mr. Peck on April 25, defending school spending.

The lawmakers hoped to see the tax levy decrease, and after two closed-door meetings the board promised to cut the levy increase from 9.8 percent to 6.8 percent, although that won't be done before Tuesday's vote.

"We tried to offer some suggestion but little was done to change the spending in the 2008-09 budget," reads the letter. "We feel they could have made additional cuts to lower the tax levy even more. They have chosen not to make tough decisions that would benefit the taxpayers of the district. Instead we are offered a budget that continues to spend and virtually deplete our fund balance. We feel the current Board of Education needs to be more proactive in their decisions and do what is best for the residents of the district."

The letter also claims that inaccurate information was included in the budget mailer sent out by the district, saying that the mailer did not include necessary information about spending on administration and that cuts "in salaries that truly are not cuts" were included in the information.

The letter goes on to say that the concerns addressed by the lawmakers don't reflect on the teachers.

"Voting NO on May 20th doesn't mean we don't care about our children's education and is no way a reflection on the teachers," the letter reads. "What it does say is 'We the community don't agree that the school board is representing the residents, the teachers, and our children properly.'"

Mr. Burto said that even though the lawmakers don't support the budget, he doesn't feel it's appropriate to tell anyone how to vote.

"We just want everyone to make a well-informed vote on the 20th," he said.

Mr. Militello said the information provided by the district was complete and accurate and "we tried to dispel all the rumors and the misconceptions."

"I'm concerned that no matter what we try to do, it doesn't seem to make a difference," he said. "I wish they would have approached us with their concerns before they sent out the letter."

District Assistant Superintendent of Business Michael G. Powers said he tried to present the facts to the best of his ability but many of the issues are very "involved."

"I can see some of these things being confusing to them, but we've tried to answer all of their questions," Mr. Powers said. "I'd be glad to sit down with those gentlemen or anyone to help them understand these things. I thought I was pretty deliberate trying to answer their questions, but certain things are hard to grasp in a three- or a five-minute discussion."