Officials for Schalmont Central Schools unveiled the district’s $41.55 million preliminary 2008-2009 budget at the first of two public budget workshops on Wednesday, March 26.
The board is set approve the budget at its next scheduled meeting on Monday, April 7.
The proposed budget represents a 3.63 percent increase over the $40.1 million 2007-2008 budget.
Superintendent Valerie Kelsey touted the fact that the projected budget continues the district’s five-year trend of decreased increases in the tax levy.
In 2006-2007 the board passed a budget that marked a 5.82 percent increase from the previous year. The 2007-2008 budget reduced the increase to 4.5 percent and the estimated tax levy increase for 2008-2009 would be 2.99 percent, according to school officials.
`We’re already motivated to continue this trend in the next budget process,` said Kelsey.
Kelsey was adamant that the recent reassessment in Rotterdam did not provide for additional revenue for the school district, only how the levy was distributed among the taxpayers.
Kelsey said rising diesel fuel costs, salary costs and health-care expenses accounted for the budget increase.
Under the proposed budget, wage expenditures rise slightly from $18.25 million to $19.27 million, while the cost of benefits also rise slightly from $9.99 million to $10.25 million.
Despite the increase in salary costs, Kelsey said the school will be forced to cut back several staff positions due to declining enrollment. She said one full-time position will be cut from the middle school as well as some part-time positions in art, music and physical education departments. At the high school, Kelsey said some non-essential, part-time positions would be cut.
Kelsey said the district is also working to combine other positions. Instead of having a supervisor of transportation and a building and grounds supervisor, these positions will merge. She said Schalmont would also provide a stipend for a head mechanic instead of hiring a separate bus repair supervisor.
Regarding the increase in benefits costs, Kelsey said the district replaced its self-funded health insurance plan with a similar and less expensive program through Blue Shield to attempt to save as much as possible.
Other line item costs like debt services and BOCES remain virtually the same.
Aside from the budget, residents will also vote on a bus proposition in May.
The proposition would allocate $381,000 to buy three large buses and two small buses for the district. According to Kelsey, the buses would replace five old buses as part of the district’s five-year replacement and payment plan designed to keep the transportation program up to date.
The budget workshop also included an overview of the district’s goals including those concerning the maintenance of existing instructional programs, facilities and security improvements.
Kelsey also presented cost-saving measures such as an energy savings program and participation in a buying-consortium with other Schenectady County schools. The buying consortium allows schools to save on everything from trash removal and paper supplies to cafeteria food and bus parts.
And while other districts across the state are reeling over the uncertainty of the state budget in the wake of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation, Kelsey said Schalmont isn’t as concerned about the fate of its state aid.
`We receive the minimum guarantee of a Foundation Aid funding increase anyway,` said Kelsey.
Under the state’s proposed budget, Schalmont will receive a 2.19 percent increase in Foundation Aid and a total of $11.8 million in state funding.
Residents will vote on the school budget, bus proposition and school board candidates on May 20.“