Mohonasen would lose 18 full-time equivalent positions next school year under the proposed budget as spending increases by $1.2 million, or 2.75 percent.
The Mohonasen Board of Education on Monday, April 16, adopted a $44.1 million 2012-13 budget with a tax levy increase of 2.28 percent that remains under the district’s maximum allowable tax levy limit. The district is estimated to see an increase of state aid around $565,000, with the budget using a total of nearly $18 million.
The average homeowner in Rotterdam with a home assessed at $150,000 would see a $52.50 increase in their taxes, bringing the total year’s tax to around $2,385, according to district officials. The 2012-13 estimated tax rate for Rotterdam is estimated to equal $15.89 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Guilderland homeowners with an assessment of $150,000 would see an increase of $61.50 per year to bring the total tax to around $2,768. Colonie homeowners with the same assessed value would see an increase of $79.50 per year totaling $3,535.
The spending plan eliminates 13.3 full-time equivalent teaching positions, which include six FTE elementary positions, 0.2 FTE in art, 0.6 FTE in physical education and health, 0.8 FTE in technology, 0.8 FTE in foreign language, 1.2 FTE in science, 0.5 FTE in reading and one FTE from math, social studies, music and English. There will be a restoration of 0.8 FTE positions across the high school to address class size and electives.
Outside of teaching cuts, one administration position and four support staff positions are eliminated in the budget.
Class sizes are also planned to increase across K-12. Project enrollment for kindergarten is also set to see a slight decrease of four students to a total of 180. Kindergarten would have one less section next school year and projected class sizes would increase by around two students to a total of 22.5 students per section.
Other enrollment and section projections for next school year include first grade with 184 students in eight sections of 23, second grade with 167 students in seven sections of 23.9, third grade with 193 students in eight sections of 24.1, fourth grade with 212 students in eight sections of 26.5, fifth grade with 199 students in eight sections of 24.9 and sixth grade with 210 students in eight sections of 26.5.
District officials said class sizes in grades 7-12 vary depending on class and subject area.
Revenues are estimated to increase around $1.18 million in the budget. Outside of the nearly $18 million in state aid, the property tax levy would total nearly $23 million and increase about $510,000. Fund balance appropriation is increasing by $250,000 to total $1.25 million. Also, reserve appropriation is remaining steady at $800,000.
District residents will vote on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 15, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the high school. There will be a budget hearing and a Meet the Candidates Night on Monday, May 7, at 6 p.m.
If the budget fails to pass, the district can choose to resubmit the original budget or submit a revised budget for voters on Tuesday, June 19. It also could choose to adopt a contingency budget holding a zero percent tax levy increase, which if the budget failed to pass a second time the district would be required to adopt.
Residents will also vote on a bus purchase proposition for the purchase of two full-size, 66-passenger busses and one 24-passenger, wheelchair accessible bus. The proposition doesn’t have any impact on the 2012-13 budget and debt and bond payments will start in the 2013-14 school year.
The estimated budget impact over the five-year bond for the buses is estimated to cost the district $15,312 per year. The total proposition limit is $290,000, with the state planned to cover around 74 percent of the cost.
