2009-2010 Budget
Community Budget Forum kicks off 2009-2010 budget process
| “This is one of the most challenging
economic climates we’ve gone through since most of us have
been alive." - Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring |
Jan. 13, 2009
Approximately 15 residents turned out for the first public budget meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 12. The Community Budget Forum was the first in a string of scheduled public meetings designed to offer local taxpayers an opportunity to learn more about the district’s budget, how it works and the pressures that are on it.
Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring and Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Swezey started the evening with a short presentation, outlining the budgetary goals for the 2009-2010 school year, the upcoming budget development process and the fiscal outlook for the coming year.
Download the presentation (PDF)
“These are based on our belief that we can be one of the best districts around,” Spring said of the 2009-2010 budgetary goals, which include maintaining programs that are moving the district forward, maximizing existing resources, seeking out new revenues and improving results district wide.
However, Spring acknowledged that the tough economic times are weighing on everyone’s minds as the budget process moves forward.
“This is one of the most challenging economic climates we’ve gone through since most of us have been alive,” she said.
In his state budget proposal, Governor Paterson has called for keeping state aid to schools flat and administering a one-time “Deficit Reduction Assessment (DRA)” for all districts. For Mohonasen, the DRA would be $1.5 million. That, coupled with a roughly 3.06 percent budget-to-budget increase over the current year’s budget for things like contractual and energy increases, leaves an approximately $2.8 million gap in the district’s budget.
Swezey said this gap could translate to a roughly 10 percent tax levy increase.
“That is not something we could ask the community to do,” she said. “We are now looking at what we would have to do to make up that gap.”
Spring pointed out that over the years Mohonasen has been very pro-active when it comes to cutting costs and being efficient. For example, through its energy plan the district has realized a more than $1 million cost containment on energy and thanks to the EXCEL capital project, approved by voters in October 2007, the district’s buildings will become even more energy efficient in the coming years. Officials have also limited field trips, looked to make transportation routes more efficient and have not filled vacant positions unless necessary.
Those in attendance were also given an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback at the budget forum.
One resident asked what changes can be made to make an impact on the budget and actually bring costs down. Swezey and Spring answered that administrators are currently looking at staffing district wide and have also placed a freeze on current expenditures in hopes of helping to offset the loss in revenue for next year. Spring added that if the district does make staffing cuts, they will be across the board.
Residents also asked about rising health insurance costs, staff development costs, the number of district administrators, administrative salaries, staff development, school supply lists and last year’s budget information on the district Web site.
Look for answers to these questions—as well as answers to questions submitted in the 2009-2010 budget survey—in a special budget question and answer section on the district Web site, which will be made available in the coming weeks.
District residents are encouraged to learn more about how the Mohonasen budget works at a special Budgeting 101 session on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Mohonasen High School Library. Then, on Jan. 26, there will be a general overview of the budget and budget goals and priorities at the second public budget forum at 6 p.m. in the Farnsworth Technology Center at Mohonasen High School.
The budget forums are a new part of the Mohonasen budget process. Rather than have a designated budget committee, officials are starting a process where components of the budget are presented during a series of public forums. The public is invited to attend the meetings to gather information, ask questions and give feedback. See the budget development timeline for more information about the forums.
