Pine Plains 2009 budget facts and figures

Correction: The article published in the March 12 issue on the March 4 Board of Education meeting entitled “BOE continues budget work†contained incorrect information. The information used to write the article was gathered from the online posting of a Board of Education meeting held March 3, 2008. We regret any confusion, and the following is the correct write-up on the March 4, 2009, Board of Education meeting. The Web site, for further information, is ppcsd.org. Under “Board of Ed,†click on “Superintendent’s Reflections.â€

PINE PLAINS — Budget reports on transportation, computer-assisted instruction, pupil personnel services and special education, facilities and operations and the BOCES budget were presented during the Board of Education meeting on March 4. All the reports are part of the district’s 2009-10 budget preparation.

Under transportation, the district has requested that the board present, as a separate proposition for voter approval, a request to purchase five new buses.

Board President Helene McQuade explained by phone after the meeting that the district had been on a replacement schedule for its buses.

“It’s important because after a while they get to be old enough that the cost of maintaining them is no longer practical,†she said.

Under the replacement schedule, the district would replace several buses each year. However, when the district was forced to go on an austerity budget, no buses were purchased.

“The reason they’re being put up for separate resolutions is so that we can take out a loan,†McQuade said, which would lessen the impact on the upcoming budget.

The cost of the expense, which includes two small and three large buses, is estimated to be $400,000.

The estimated budget for pupil personnel services and special education will increase by approximately $200,000 because of increased requirements for student services in occupational therapy, physical therapy and other mandated programs.

The computer-assisted instruction budget for next year is expected to decrease due to personnel reductions. The facilities and operations budget will increase by approximately 1 percent.

After the departmental presentations, the board and Kaumeyer discussed budget targets for this year. The administration planned to present two separate budget proposals to the board at the next board meeting on March 18. The first will be a budget with a 4-percent budget-to-budget increase, which is equal to an austerity budget. The second will have an increase lower than 4 percent, which was requested specifically by the board.

“We’re expecting to see at least those two options along with what particular items would be removed or cut out of the [first] budget to achieve [the second],†McQuade said.

So far, the board has been reviewing what has already been proposed. McQuade said they’ve discussed various options for things that might be included and excluded.

“It’s tough,†she said. “We’re faced with bigger state aid cuts and tough economic times. We have to act responsibly, and to make sure we’re controlling as much as we can in terms of spending. We want to preserve the important programs for students and at the same time be as efficient as possible with taxpayer dollars.â€

The next Board of Education meeting will be Wednesday, March 18, at Cold Spring Elementary.