2010-2011 Budget

Officials outline cuts, receive feedback at community meeting

March 18, 2010

Proposed 10-11 budget shows 0.8 percent budget increase; 2.5 percent tax levy increase The proposed 2010-2011 budget currently stands at $42,720,170. If adopted by the Board of Education, this proposal -- which is still being developed -- would represent a 0.8 percent budget-to-budget increase over last year and a 2.49 percent tax levy increase. Click here to view the estimated expenditures and revenues for 2010-2011 (PDF). Daily Gazette, March 16, 2010 Mohonasen nearing land deal with neighbors Read Daily Gazette Story (PDF) Contingency Budget Under current law a contingency budget is capped at the lesser of 120 percent of the CPI for the prior calendar year or 4 percent. The CPI for 2009 was -0.4%, which means the contingency cap for 2010-11 would be a negative. Since this was never the intent of the law, there is currently a proposal that would prevent a negative contingency cap. The proposal would also use a five-year CPI average instead of only the previous year’s to determine the amount used in the contingency budget cap calculation. Assuming current law, a -0.4 percent Contingency Cap would mean the current proposed budget amount of $42,720,170 would need to be reduced by an additional $433,577. This would decimate programs. Under contingency, some items would need to be cut from the budget to meet the law with respect to the definition of contingency appropriations. Cuts would be to student supplies, community use of buildings and grounds, certain equipment purchases and salary increases. A new way to vote This year, the Schenectady County Board of Elections has introduced new voting machines, which will be used at Mohonasen for the first time this May. The machines are Digital Image Scanners, which read a paper ballot that is completed by the voter. Voting machine demonstrations will be held at Rotterdam Town Hall on the following dates: Tuesday, April 27 from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday, May 1 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Bus proposition Every year, district officials typically put a bus proposition up alongside the district’s budget for voter approval. By doing this, officials can follow a replacement plan for district buses. For next year, officials are considering a proposition to purchase seven buses, three of which would be wheelchair compatible. At this time, the estimated cost of this to Mohonasen taxpayers would be approximately $74,760 over the course of five years. These debt service payments would begin in the 2011-12 school year. Two BOE seats on the ballot On May 18, voters will also vote on two Board of Education seats. Candidates run “at large” for three-year terms. Anyone wishing to run for the board needs to pick up a petition at the district offices. Petitions are due back to the district by April 19 at 5 p.m. and they require 35 signatures.

Approximately 40 members of the Mohonasen community came together on Monday, March 15 to discuss the 2010-2011 budget and the proposed spending cuts that go along with it.

View the entire PowerPoint presentation from the meeting.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Spring urged the audience, made up of residents, parents, teachers, taxpayers, Board of Education members and administrators, to keep the “big picture” in mind when looking at the budget and the proposed reductions.

“Sometimes we get so focused on the little things that we forget why we do the things we do,” she said. “We exist to educate students.”

Spring explained that because of natural year-to-year increases and a $1.9 million expected reduction in state aid, the district is facing a $3.2 million gap between expenses and revenues in next year’s budget. To fill this gap, district officials have been looking at ways to trim discretionary spending – meaning costs that are not mandated, contractual, safety related or regulatory.

“You can’t eliminate all of your discretionary funding because you need some of that to function,” Spring said. “However, we didn’t want to cut into program if at all possible.”

“We’ve chosen not to eliminate programs at this point,” she said.

In all, the Board of Education is currently considering more than $2.5 million in budget reductions. These cuts include 17.6 FTE (full-time equivalent) in staffing reductions.

These staffing reductions include:

• 7 FTE in grades K-6
  This means that one section of grades kindergarten, first, second, fourth and sixth will be eliminated and two sections of third grade will be eliminated. In addition, 0.1 of physical education and 0.1 of art at Pinewood will be eliminated.
  
  As a result, class sizes at these grade levels will increase by approximately 2-4 students per class. See the Enrollment slide from Monday night’s PowerPoint presentation for more information on how these proposed cuts will affect class sizes (PDF).

• 3 FTE in the Secondary Subject Areas
  At this high school these reductions include: 0.2 business, 0.6 social studies, 0.3 social worker, 0.4 math and 0.4 English. As a result of these cuts there will be fewer sections of these classes and larger class sizes. Overall, class sizes will remain at approximately 20 to 30 students per section.
  
  At the middle school, these reductions include: 0.4 music and 0.5 physical education. These reductions will be covered by existing staff and class sizes should not increase by much at the middle school.

• 0.5 FTE in Special Education & 0.5 FTE in English as a Second Language (ESL)
  These reductions can be made because of a decrease in the number of special education and ESL students in the district.

• 2.1 FTE Administrator/Supervisor
  These reductions include reducing the assistant treasurer position by 0.5, reducing the CSE (Committee on Special Education) chair position by 0.5, eliminating the 0.6 academic administrator for social studies position (a 0.6 position), and reducing the central office clerical staff by 0.5.
  
  Please note: For the last year, Dan Lucca has been “volunteering” at Mohonasen as the academic administrator for social studies. Mr. Lucca is a retired former district administrator. Because he was paid only $100 for his services this year, some have asked if the elimination of his position can really be considered a “cut.” The answer to this question is yes. Even though the district did not pay a salary for this position this year it doesn’t mean a salary would not have been paid to someone in future years. At this point officials are proposing that the position be eliminated and the job responsibilities be taken on by other administrators. This is similar to what was done last year when the director of human resources and grant development position was eliminated.

• 4.5 Support Staff
  This includes the reduction of 3.5 teacher assistants and teacher aids and the elimination of one maintenance mechanic position.

Aside from these staffing reductions, officials are also considering another approximately $630,000 in budget reductions district wide. Again, these cuts were made in an effort to keep all programs intact. Click here to see a summary of these major changes/reductions to the budget (PDF). Both Spring and Swezey pointed out that these kinds of budget reductions are possible because of many pro-active cost-savings measures that have been made at Mohonasen over the years. Click here to see a summary of these cost-savings measures, including ways the district has collaborated with other area school districts and towns (PDF).

Residents offer feedback on cuts, tax levy increase

After the budget presentation, those in attendance at the forum offered feedback in the form of small group discussions about the proposed cuts and subsequent budget increase for next year. While the comments ran the gamut, here's a snapshot of what residents said:

• The cuts seem necessary because of the decrease in state aid.

• Concerned about future program cuts; the proposed cuts aren't as bad as they could have been.

• Nobody likes a tax increase, but 2.49 percent isn't that bad... worried about what will happen next year.

• As NYS residents we all need to lobby the state... don't feel that the state budgeting process is long term...

• Retirees can't afford tax increases right now.

• By increasing class sizes are we going backward by 10 years?

• The district needs to have a long-range plan.

• Out of the 720+ school districts in the state, Mohonasen is at the bottom when it comes to per pupil spending.

• We have a responsibility to educate children. Don't cut programs.

• Some teachers should get paid more and others shouldn't be in the room.

• Department administrator positions should be cut.

• Are these cuts too deep? Could we pass a higher tax increase?

• These budget cuts were expected.

• Whether or not the budget is cut or increased, we must educate the public.

• The district is an asset to the community.

• Is letting the elementary school teachers go a good idea when that is the foundation?

• Other than the teachers being cut, the reductions seem minimal.

• The district should offer more retirement incentives and cut administrators.

• The budget increase is smaller than the increases we've seen in other things, e.g., food, gas.

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