It was another discussion of the budget at the OBEN school board meeting last week. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Stephen Valente spoke about the revenue budget. He said the governor has not yet released his state aid figures, so the school district is still in the dark about how much it will receive.
“We cannot be sure how much we will be getting, but it is traditionally low compared to other districts because we are considered a high wealth district,” said Valente.
Included in the governor’s budget for state aid is instructional materials aid, building aid and other expense-based aids, such as BOCES, transportation and special education costs.
The tax levy limit sent down from the state for the 2015-16 budget is 1.68 percent. The preliminary budget that has been rolled out asks for a 1.37 percent tax levy. The board unanimously agreed that they would stay within the tax levy limit. The total amount for the 2015-16 proposed budget is $55,326,318, a 1.37 percent difference compared with the 2014-15 adopted budget total of $54,578,478.
Valente said that, coupled with the external auditors giving OBEN schools their highest ratings, the financial situation in the district is strong and secure.
“The budget that will be voted on in May will come in under the tax levy limit without impacting the educational programs in place,” said Valente.
Valente said that the current elements of the 2015-16 budget include the Tax Base Growth Factor, Allowable Levy Growth Factor and the no pension exclusions.
“What is still unknown are the state aid figures, Smart Schools Grant, kindergarten enrollment figures, tax freeze regulations and the Affordable Care Act Impact,” said Valente.
Other unknown factors include the ENL (English as a New Language) enrollment data and the GEA (Gap Elimination Adjustment.)
Some of the positive factors affecting the 2015-16 budget include the TRS and ERS rate reductions with approximately $832,000 in savings and the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) interest rate which is estimated at .005 percent.
Areas of increase in the proposed budget include technology, athletics, the high school summer school program and the STEM/LEGO robotics program.
Event supervision, TRS/ERS contributions and districtwide supplies and material are all budget reduction areas.
At the budget vote on Tuesday, May 19, there will be an item on the ballot asking people from the community to approve the use of funds from the capital reserve for necessary repairs to district facilities. These repairs will include technology upgrades, repairs to the roof in the fourth-grade wing at the Vernon School, reconfiguration of room 16 at Roosevelt, repairs to rooms and ceilings at the high school and energy efficient window replacements at Roosevelt and the high school.
The estimated amount for these repairs is $2,438,385, which will be paid for out of available funds and is at no additional cost to the taxpayers.
Earlier in the month, the board agreed to put up a bond proposal for the community to vote on in early December.
The bond will pay for a renovation of the art and music wing at the high school to address the current overcrowding problem. It will also pay for the air conditioning in the cafeterias of all three schools and in the Performing Arts Center (PAC or auditorium) at the high school.
At the work session on Tuesday, March 31, Stephen Valente discussed the impact of a failed budget, which will be reported on in next week’s paper.