Monday, March 1, 2010

Superintendent proposes 2010-11 budget of $47.28 million;
Board of Education seeks $350,000 more in reductions to keep tax increase to 3%

Here is her presentation made to the Board of Education (in PDF)

Superintendent Susan Swartz presented a proposed $47.28 million budget for the 2010-11 school year to the Board of Education on Monday.

Board of Education members reviewed Swartz's proposal on Monday and asked her to make an additional $350,000 in reductions - resulting in an estimated 3% tax increase. For the current school year, the Scotia-Glenville school tax rate declined by 1.66%.

The Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, to further review the budget plan.

The budget proposal calls for the elimination of 23 full-time positions next year including teachers, teaching assistants, teacher aides, monitors and clerks as well as several spending reductions.

The proposal cuts spending by $1.87 million compared with the carry-over budget Swartz presented in January.

The resulting proposal is a $627,698 spending increase - 1.35% - above the current $46.65 million budget. That would result in an estimated tax rate increase of 5.73%.

On the revenue side of the budget, state aid is being reduced by $2.31 million. Swartz's proposal includes using an additional $768,000 in fund balance (money set aside for a rainy day) as well as $337,000 in designated reserves to pay for higher retirement system costs.

The proposal does not include any growth in the town of Glenville's tax base. That figure will not be known until later in the spring.