$102.7M — The amount of the proposed budget for 2015-16 school year.
2.81% — Calculated increase in tax levy from the previous year.
$2.3M — Same calculated increase in tax levy represented in dollars.
The North Colonie Central School District proposed a $102.7 million budget with a 2.81 percent tax levy increase for the 2015-16 school year. The lexy equals an almost $2.3 million increase from last year.
North Colonie presented a more solid budget Wednesday evening, April 1, after school aid runs were released from the state the day before. The district should see about $19.5 million in state aid for the 2015-16 school year, a $1.5 million increase from last year’s aid. District officials, however, are concerned after finding a need for nearly $1 million from its fund balance in order to present a balanced budget by the end of April.
The district expects to see about $102.7 million in expenditures for next year. After calculating in school aid, including $3.1 million in building aid and a $611,210 one-time aid for full-day kindergarten, the district increased its tax levy 2.81 percent, well within the state mandated 2 percent tax cap.
As well, North Colonie should see over $1 million towards restoration from the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA), bringing the gap from $2.9 million to $1.8 million. Superintendent of Schools Joseph Corr said that, while state officials expect the gap to be fully restored by the end of 2016-17, the school district anticipates another two years.
However, after calculating all its revenue sources, including state aid and the tax levy, the district found a budget gap just shy of $1 million. In order the balance the budget, the district calculated in $967,772 from its fund balance.
While dipping into the reserves was not ideal, Corr said the district intends to find other revenue sources throughout the year in order to not use that nearly $1 million.
“When we talk about trying to balance our budget this year, our heartfelt goal is to not use that $1 million, and I believe that is very attainable,” said Corr. “We can look at how we can creatively and thoughtfully do less, do differently and repurpose existing resources into areas that actually might produce more benefit.”
In June 2014, the district had $12.7 in reserves. In the 2014-15 school year, district officials expect to use all of the $3 million from reserves that was budgeted. With the $1 million for 2015-16, the balance will be at $8.7 million by next June.
Corr said the situation was not ideal by way of sustainability. With its first budget draft, it was calculated that by the 2018-19 school year, the district would see a $3.3 million deficit in its reserves. According to Corr, the district has plans to reduce expenditures in order to actually build back up the reserves.
The superintendent presented a plan that included adding $32,228 back into the fund balance by the end of next school year through reducing expenditures throughout the year.
With new program initiatives beginning next school year, the district will be adjusting staffing arrangements, particularly after the implementation of full-day kindergarten.
Corr said that, with the school aid runs now released, the district should look at how to allocate resources, specifically staffing resources, in order to provide students with an effective learning environment.
District officials have to “talk about developing the human capital within our school system by providing staff with learning experience and support to build that larger learning community,” said Corr. He said that no one in the district would be losing a job.
In its last budget presentation, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Kathleen Skeals spoke on full-day kindergarten and the new English as a New Language state mandates. In her presentation, Skeals suggested possibly reassigning four “instructional coaches,” teachers who were originally reassigned to help with common core implementation, to take on full-day kindergarten teaching roles.
Wednesday night, Skeals said that after discussion within the district, it was found that keeping four of those positions and reassigning two would be better. Within the elementary schools, principals specifically did not have the resources to fully help teachers with further support in common core, according to Skeals.
She said that ongoing support to help with instruction methods for common core would benefit both teachers and students.
Other possible staffing changes include reassignments for new art program initiatives, including an art program for kindergarten, and reducing some positions through attrition with retirements.
Perhaps the biggest change in staffing arrangements being considered is the redistribution of responsibilities originally assigned to the Pupil Services department. According to the first option Corr presented, put together when school aid runs were not released, this included streamlining the department. Under this option, Pupil Services would eliminate one administrative position.
Corr said that a second option was now being considered that includes replacing a retirement in Pupil Services, among other options. Ultimately, whichever option the Board of Education chooses to support, it will be budget neutral, according to Corr.
The next budget meeting will be held Monday, April 13, when board members may vote to approve or deny sections of the budget. The board has an April 21 deadline to adopt the 2015-16 budget. A public forum will be held Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. in the District Office, with the public vote Tuesday, May 19, at all elementary schools.
For more information on North Colonie’s budget process, including presentations and videos of the meetings, visit the district’s website at www.northcolonie.org.
