As school districts across New York State engage in the annual process of developing their spending plans for the next fiscal year, each must contend with the increasing pressure of the the Tax Cap and Gap Elimination Adjustment. For a clear, concise explanation of the Gap, see this video by Education Speaks.
Gap Elimination Adjustment: An Explanation
The Board is already looking at possible cuts in support staff, classroom instruction, instructional and athletic supplies and equipment, and the elimination of summer school. Though not yet agreed upon or specific, these reductions do not yet address all of the spending cuts that will be necessary to meet the district's budget deficit. Budget discussions will continue in Haldane Board of Education meetings, and the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the Merritt Building.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
What Can We Live Without?
Haldane Board of Education Workshop Meeting Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the Merritt Building.
The challenges Haldane's Board of Education faces as it develops a spending plan for 2013-2014 will be how to identify spending cuts that will cause the least impact to its education program, and how to make sustainable cuts so that the district can continue to function.
In the past few years the District has made careful choices for spending reductions, natural staff reductions, and the use of reserve funds and fund balance to avoid more painful program cuts. This year the Board faces difficult choices and must make cuts to meet an estimated $400k budget shortfall. There are no easy answers. Parents, students, teachers and everyone else in the school community has a stake in this discussion--the question is, what can you live without?
Budget update discussions will take place between now and April 2, when the Board adopts the Budget Proposition for public vote. The time leading up to Budget Adoption is when the public can offer input into the planning process, and public participation is encouraged by the Board. What is cut--or what is saved--will be determined in the next few weeks. At Tuesday's workshop the discussion will focus on Program Review and Budget Investments. A draft agenda is available at the Haldane School website.
The challenges Haldane's Board of Education faces as it develops a spending plan for 2013-2014 will be how to identify spending cuts that will cause the least impact to its education program, and how to make sustainable cuts so that the district can continue to function.
In the past few years the District has made careful choices for spending reductions, natural staff reductions, and the use of reserve funds and fund balance to avoid more painful program cuts. This year the Board faces difficult choices and must make cuts to meet an estimated $400k budget shortfall. There are no easy answers. Parents, students, teachers and everyone else in the school community has a stake in this discussion--the question is, what can you live without?
Budget update discussions will take place between now and April 2, when the Board adopts the Budget Proposition for public vote. The time leading up to Budget Adoption is when the public can offer input into the planning process, and public participation is encouraged by the Board. What is cut--or what is saved--will be determined in the next few weeks. At Tuesday's workshop the discussion will focus on Program Review and Budget Investments. A draft agenda is available at the Haldane School website.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Business Meeting and Budget Talks
Haldane's Board of Education will meet Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the Merritt Building meeting room. This is the regular monthly business meeting, and the budget will be discussed at every meeting until the budget vote on May 21. The Governor's budget will affect decisions about spending in this budget creation process, and public input is encouraged.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)