District shares Level I cuts, new budget figures
March 17, 2011
At the March 15 Community Budget Forum, school officials shared with the board and community a list of Level I budget cuts, based on a series of administrative discussions, that would save the district $124,100 in the 2011-12 budget. Business Administrator Brenda Kane also explained that the latest draft of the budget is now $14.2 million, which is nearly $200,000 less than the first draft.
“Since the first draft of the budget was created we’ve received more accurate
health insurance premium figures that have changed the expense side of the
budget,” explains Kane. “We also added a list of cuts that further reduces the
overall budget.”
At previous meetings residents learned that the district’s rollover budget, or first draft, of $14.4 million carried a 13.2% tax rate increase. From the onset of the budget process, the board has been looking for ways to cut the $800,000 gap from the rollover budget in an effort to reduce the tax rate increase to 2%. The budget gap is the result of another year of significant state aid reductions (approximately $1.1 M) and rising costs in health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, utilities, etc.
The most up-to-date budget, shared with the public at the March 15 meeting, is now $14,212,091 and carries a tax rate increase of 10.4%. To bring the tax rate down to 2%, the district needs to cut $585,000.
Proposed cuts
District officials presented the board with a list of budget savings and cuts that could save the district more than $120,000. If any of these items become reinstated, they will increase the budget gap of $585,000.
• $5,000 savings: Remove Athletic Director stipend from budget. This position has been combined with the MS Principal position.
• $36,000
savings: Reduce ESL time from .60 to .20 FTE. Over
the years, the need for ESL services has lessened and, therefore, can be
reduced.
• $12,000
savings: Remove Tech
Valley tuition expense from budget. This expense retires when the student
graduates this June.
• $22,000
savings: Reduce BOCES Special Education OCC slot
because less students required this next year.
• $7,500
savings: Reduce the late bus to two nights from
four nights so students with no transportation could still get some extra help
from teachers after school.
• $1,500
savings: Reduce the library aide to two nights from
four nights to coincide with the late bus runs.
• $1,500
savings: Eliminate summer psychological evaluations
because we don’t have the need this summer.
• $9,500
savings: Cancel the BOCES Substitute Teacher
Service. The district can bring this service back in-house and create its own
substitute teacher list and procedures. The principals have agreed to head up
this in-house service. Teachers will now have to call their principals when they
are going to be absent, and the principals will be responsible to arrange for
substitute teachers.
• $4,000
savings: Close the Art Annex and move art classes
back to the MS/HS building. There is room in the main building, and the district
can stop paying for utilities and maintenance on the Annex.
• $4,000
savings: Reduced district-funded field trip
expenses by half.
• $2,000
savings: Eliminate two MS/HS clubs, Friends of
Rachel and Nimbus. Students who are members of FOR are encourage to become
members of the Leo Club. Student who are members of Nimbus are encouraged to
become members of the School Newspaper where their skills can be utilized.
• $1,600
savings: Eliminate the Assistant Cheerleading
stipend from the budget. Over the years, there has been little interest in JV
Cheerleading.
• $2,500:
Reduce Business Office time.
• $14,000:
Eliminate one teacher aide in the ES library.
• $4,000 savings: Change Actuary/Health Insurance Benefit Administration to BOCES. It is less expensive to go through BOCES for this service, plus it is aidable.
Next Steps
At this point, the board will review the Level I cuts, as well seek other ways
to reduce the $585,000 gap. Additionally, they will be reviewing responses from
the non-mandated services and programs survey that was shared with the community
at the March 2 and 3 Public Budget Meetings. The responses, broken into two
categories: teacher/staff and resident responses, can be viewed below.
Some of the items that are currently the table and are being looked into for
additional savings are a possible retirement incentive, continued negotiations
with unions regarding health insurance changes and a review of class sizes and
sections.
The next budget work session is Tuesday, March 22 at 6 p.m. in the HS MOCC 124A.
There is also a board meeting April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the MS/HS Multi-purpose room. The board is expected to adopt the 2011-12 proposed budget at this meeting.
[NON-MANDATED SERVICES SURVEY RESPONSES FROM TEACHERS/STAFF - PDF]
[NON-MANDATED SERVICES SURVEY RESPONSES FROM RESIDENTS - PDF]
[LINK TO MARCH 15 PRESENTATION - PDF]