Budget

Budget increase among the lowest in Mohonasen history

Residents to vote on $42.4 million budget

On Tuesday, May 19, Mohonasen Central School District residents will vote on a $42,383,693 proposed budget for the 2009-2010 school year.

Spending in the proposed budget is up $448,079 over the current year’s budget, representing a 1.068 percent budget-to-budget increase and an estimated tax levy increase of 0.59  percent -- or a little more than 1/2 of a percent.

“This budget increase is among the lowest Mohonasen has ever seen,” Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring said. “Given the state of the national and local economies, this budget represents an effort to hold the line on spending and become even more efficient, while continuing to maintain quality programs for our students.”

In addition to the budget, on May 19 voters will elect three candidates to serve on the Board of Education and consider a proposition to purchase seven school buses and two Suburbans.

Maintaining momentum, Focusing on priorities

This past January, 269 residents filled out an online survey about priorities for the 2009-10 budget (the survey was open to any district resident). Of those who responded, 89.2 percent said that the core academic programs were a priority. Other priorities included elective areas, technology and transportation.

“Going into this process we wanted to know what is important to the community and the survey helped us do that,” Spring said. “What we heard from the community was a real need to continue programs and services while at the same time keeping the taxpayers in mind—especially during these difficult times.”

Members of the community also provided budget feedback through the Mohonasen Web site (www.mohonasen.org), during seven public budget meetings and through focus groups that were created to generate input on the district’s long-range program and facilities plan.

District priorities include improving graduation rates; focusing on transitions and interventions; focusing on literacy and English language arts skills; improving safety and security; and creating programs that will prepare students for life after Mohonasen, Spring added.

Even though state foundation aid, which accounts for most of the state aid the district receives, has remained flat for next year and costs associated with salaries, health insurance, pensions, state and federal mandates and other areas of the budget continue to rise, officials kept these district and community priorities in mind when developing the 2009-10 budget.

During the last couple of years, Mohonasen has seen significant increases in elementary math scores, eighth-grade English language arts scores, high school Regents scores and graduation rates. Additionally, the district continues efforts to help all students score at high levels. Through the middle school Success is Required program, more students are passing every class and avoiding summer school. The high school Transition Teams are helping all students meet the rigorous requirements of the state Regents Diploma.

This coming September, Mohonasen will be adding full-day kindergarten at Bradt Primary School—a program that is proven to help students get a stronger start in school and help avoid future remediation services for many.

“We are experiencing momentum with our academics here at Mohonasen, which is why we were hesitant to make any significant reductions in programmatic areas,” Spring said.

With all of this in mind, Mohonasen’s budget is already below the 4 percent expenditure cap allowed by the state for a contingency budget. This means that if the budget is defeated, cuts would not have to be made to meet the expenditure cap. However, cuts would need to be made to meet the definition of a contingency budget. Cuts, which would be mandated by law, would include more than $78,000 in student supplies, community use of buildings and grounds, equipment purchases and certain salary increases.

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