Haldane's Board of Education November 20, 2012 meeting held a full agenda, with a special character education program presentation on Second Step by ES/MS Principal Brent Harrington and a fact-full presentation on college and career readiness by HS Principal Brian Alm.
Following reports from High School representatives Steven Casement, Lindy Labriola and Mina Elwell and brief administrative reports, Business Manager Anne Dinio dug into the 2013-14 Rollover Budget presentation. The Rollover Budget is the traditional starting point in budget talks by the Board of Education, which are occurring nearly two months earlier than in years past. This Rollover Budget contains the best estimate by the business office of known cost increases, and usually leaves budget lines for expenses such as fuel and supplies flat with no year-to-year increase. Predicted cost increases for 2013-14 occur in salaries, ERS, TRS and health insurance and account for an estimated 4.93% increase over last year's spending.
Superintendent Mark Villanti warned the Board and the public last year about the "two-headed dragon" that the tax cap and reduction in state aid produces. For the past couple of years the district has weathered this half million dollar aid cut by using up savings and by reducing staff expenses through retirements and natural reductions. However, as district expenses increase each year, the cut in aid becomes more difficult to manage, and painful cuts are likely to occur.
The Board also adopted the Calendar for the 2013-14 Budget. It is safe to say that the Board will be discussing budget targets in every meeting until April 2, 2013 when they adopt the budget and proposition that voters will vote on May 21, 2013.
Looking ahead: the Board will host an important workshop meeting on January 15, 2013 with special invited guests Assemblywoman Sandy Galef and NYS Senator Steve Saland or Terry Gipson (pending the final outcome of the contested election). The public is encourage to attend this meeting.
1 comment:
with revenues flat at best & major expense increases being automatic by law for the most part, the time will come when you can no longer just keep cutting without effecting program. I'd like to see a large crowd at the budget workshop with our NYS elected officials. The system of public education finance needs to change. It's a model that no longer works effectively and is unsustainable
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