Recap of district's first budget work session
On Tuesday, Feb. 15 the Board of Education and Duanesburg administrators held the first of a series of budget work sessions where administrators explained that for the third year in a row, Duanesburg is losing a significant amount of state aid--$1.1 million or 16 percent less compared to this year’s figures.
Coupling the loss in revenue with increased expenses of approximately $448,995 for health care premiums, pension costs, utility costs, and costs associated with students in outside programs, Duanesburg Business Administrator Brenda Kane is looking at building the 2011-12 budget with $1.4 million less than the current year based on the Gap Elimination Adjustment proposed by the Governor.
Over the years, district officials have worked to reduce operating costs. One of the ways is by sharing services with neighboring districts in all areas of school-related costs from paper supplies to transportation. At last night’s budget work session, the Board and administrators agreed to continue these services as well as aggressively seek new avenues of service sharing with schools in Schenectady and Schoharie Counties.
“We will continue to look at ways to cut costs and save money as we’ve done in previous years,” adds Superintendent Christine Crowley. “We’ve been diligently listening to what state officials have been predicting about state aid reductions and have tried to appropriately prepare ourselves for these tight budget years.”
NEXT
STEPS
The next steps are for the board and administrators to scrutinize the rollover budget and see where cost saving measures can be found, if possible.
“The Board and Duanesburg administrators plan strategically to establish financial stability so that our strong educational program which is so important to our students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers can be supported year after year,” says Crowley. “This budget year is no different—we will continue to strive to uphold our educational program.”
The next budget work session is Tuesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the MS/HS Multi-purpose room where administrators and the board will discuss the first draft of the 2011-12 budget.
Download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation from the first Budget Work Session. [PDF]
BUDGET CALENDAR
Tuesday, March 1: Second Budget Work Session, 7:30 p.m., MS/HS Multi-purpose room
Wednesday, March 2: Public Budget Planning Meeting, 7-9 p.m., MS/HS Cafeteria, community input is welcomed.
Thursday, March 3: Public Budget Planning Meeting, 7-9 p.m., MS/HS Cafeteria, community input is welcomed.
Tuesday, March 15: Community Budget Forum with a Legislative Perspective from Assemblyman George Amedore, 7:30 p.m., MS/HS Multi-purpose room
Tuesday, April 5: Third Budget Work Session, 7:30 p.m., MS/HS Multi-purpose room, budget expected to be adopted
Tuesday, April 26: Community Budget Presentation of Adopted Budget, 7:30 p.m., MS/HS Multi-purpose room
Tuesday, May 3: Community Budget Presentation of Adopted Budget, 7:30 p.m., MS/HS Multi-purpose room
Tuesday, May 17: District Budget Vote & School Board Elections, 1-9 p.m., Elementary School