BOE talks budget


WEBUTUCK — At a meeting at Webutuck High School Monday, the Board of Education examined the 2007-2008 budget with an eye to bringing increases down in years to come.

The latest version of Superintendent of Schools Richard Johns’ preliminary budget carries a 6.8 percent increase from last year’s fiscal plan.

Three years ago, Johns drafted five-year parameters for future budgets.

They are as follows: keep the tax levy between 5 and 8 percent, the district expense variance in the 9 to 11 percent range and the district fund balance between 19 and 22 percent.

The board should not wait two more years to draft new parameters, member Joe Herald said. They should be looked at now.

"We don’t have to wait," he said. "I’m looking at the long-term goal. We should readjust them every single year. I’m not saying I want a big spike in the mix, but a slow decline to reach the target we want ... We owe it to our community. Last year, we were close to losing our budget and this year we’re even closer."

"So what are you looking at percentage-wise?" asked Bernadette Coniglio, board president.

Both Herald and board member John Perotti said they were in favor of lowering the district fund balance, which now stands at roughly 19 percent, by 2 to 4 percentage points.

"To me, going from 19 to 15 is not just a couple percent," Coniglio said.

Furthermore, Herald would like to see an expense variance (the ratio between what the district budgets to what it actually spends) between 6 and 7 percent, a tax levy increase between 4 and 7 percent and a fund balance between 15 and 17 percent.

"Is that for this year?" Coniglio asked.

"No" was Herald’s answer.

Perotti’s numbers were the same as Herald’s.

Joanne Boyd, board member, said she, too, would like to see a 4 to 7 percent tax levy.

Lounsbury noted that she was "comfortable" with Boyd’s suggestion and would like to see the variance and fund balance clock in at 9 to 11 percent and 17 to 19 percent, respectively.

However, she did say the current fund balance parameter is "good for this year."

Dale Culver, board member, said he hopes a 2.5 percent decrease across the board will occur in coming years.

Board member Joe Matteo said that having the tax levy clock in between 4 and 7 percent is "unrealistic," especially taking into account dwindling New York state aid.

"I think it’s an impossible target," Coniglio agreed. "I think 4 [percent] is impossible without cutting program or digging into our reserves."

"I think we all agree to some point that we need to adjust parameters, but I think Dr. Johns budget is reasonable," added Susan Lounsbury, board vice-president.

Herald said Johns’ budget gives the district "too much flexibility" to make expenditures, such as the hiring of teachers or staff, midyear.

Johns said that, during his tenure, the only staff that have been hired mid-year are English as Second Language (ESL) and special education teachers, which are positions that are sorely needed in the district.

Furthermore, Johns made it clear that any personnel matter, mid-year or not, has to be approved by the board.

As the hour grew late, Lounsbury asked the other members of the board if they were "comfortable" with Johns’ proposed 2007-2008 budget.

All said yes, although Herald said the district "could tighten its belt a little bit."

The board will vote on the budget April 16. The public hearing on the document will May 7, and the public will have its chance to vote on the budget May 15, between noon and 9 p.m.

 

 

 

 

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