2009-2010 Budget
Second community budget meeting hits at priorities
Feb.
3, 2009
On Monday, Jan. 26, Mohonasen administrators, board of education members, teachers, parents and community members came together for the second community budget meeting this year. Officials are currently developing the 2009-2010 budget and are holding a series of public meetings to gather community input on next year’s spending plan. See PowerPoint Presentation from meeting (PDF)
See the complete 2009-2010 budget development calendar.
In what promises to be a difficult budget year, the purpose of the Jan. 26 meeting was to find out what residents’ priorities are in terms of district programs and services. The district is currently facing a roughly $3 million budget gap, which is the product of a $1.5 million cut in state aid and escalating annual costs.
In order to make up for this shortfall, officials are going to have to make significant budget cuts or raise taxes at a higher than normal rate. For this reason, all members of the Mohonasen community are urged to take part in the budget development process.
Approximately four parents/residents, two teachers, seven administrators and school staff members and the board of education were present for the Jan. 26 meeting.
To begin the meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Spring reviewed the district’s budgetary goals for the year, as well as areas of focus. She said the district is working hard to improve graduation rates, continue a focus on transitions and interventions, and continue a focus on literacy and English language arts district wide.
The district is also focused on improving safety and security, compliance with NCLB, improving facilities district wide and creating programs that will prepare students for life after Mohonasen.
Spring also reviewed the results of the budget survey question that asked residents what their priorities are this budget season. The chart above shows these results.
Once Spring’s presentation was complete, the entire group gathered together at a large table to discuss priorities—everything from class sizes and staffing to bus routes, extracurricular activities, reserve funds and non-mandated programs.
Highlights from this portion of the meeting include:
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One resident remarked that these are unprecedented financial times and noted that we all need to make sacrifices. “How reasonable are smaller class sizes?” he asked.
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Mohonasen’s class sizes are among the lowest in the Suburban Council, with elementary classes having 16-23 students and middle and high school classes ranging from 16-30. Spring noted that the district has worked hard over recent years to maintain smaller classes sizes and has recently reached our goals in this area.
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Spring noted that the district is going to try and make up for a $1.5 million cut in state aid and that because most of the district’s budget is made up of salaries and benefits, any significant budgetary cuts would most likely involve cutting staff.
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One resident asked if officials have considered freezing salaries or givebacks as an alternative to layoffs. Spring responded that this would have to be negotiated with the various unions, but would be considered.
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Currently the district has the full-time equivalent (FTE) of 19 administrators. One resident asked if this is more or less administrators then the district used to have. Spring answered that it is less because one full-time administrative position has not been filled and others, which were once full-time, are now part-time.
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One resident asked what the benefit of having a part-time administrator is. Spring answered that the largest savings comes from salaries, which are pro-rated, but that there is also some savings in terms of benefits.
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Someone asked how the district decides which administrative positions would be part time and which would be full time (for example, Mohonasen has a part-time social studies academic administrator and a full-time math administrator). Spring answered that the part-time positions were created through attrition—when the position became vacant is was made part time.
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In a discussion about reserve funds, one resident said it would be irresponsible for the district to use its entire reserve fund (which is currently $1.6 million) to keep down the tax rate this year, when the economic climate will probably not improve for a number of years. Another resident added that depending on how high the tax rate increase would be for next year, the district may need to use its entire reserve fund.
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Those at the meeting were asked if cuts to athletics or extracurricular activities should be made across the board or targeted to specific programs. Residents said cuts should take into consideration those programs that are partially self-supporting; parents should be asked to do more fundraising for athletics and other extracurricular programs; and whatever the percentage, cuts should be made across the board.
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Residents said that bus pickups should be consolidated for secondary students as a cost-cutting measure; however, safety should also be taken into consideration. They also advocated for doing away with separate morning and afternoon runs for kindergarten students.
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Residents also advocated for non-mandated programs such as electives, Vo-Tech, Advanced Placement and University in the High School, saying that these programs prepare students for life after high school.
The next community budget meeting will be on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the high school’s Farnsworth Technology Center. At this meeting there will be a review of different parts of the budget, including operations and maintenance, transportation, debt service transfers and special items.
Anyone with questions regarding the 2009-2010 budget or budget development process should e-mail us or call the district offices at 356-8200.
