Budget News
Board adopts 2010-2011 budget; Vote set for May 18
At a special meeting on April 15, the Green Island Board of Education unanimously adopted a $6,886,747 spending plan for the 2010-2011 school year. Residents will vote on the proposed plan on May 18.
The budget proposal is $79,882—or 1.1 percent—lower than the current year’s budget. If approved by voters, the tax rate increase would be 2.71 percent.
In developing the budget, district officials looked to close a projected $1 million budget gap for next year. The tax rate increase is created by the loss of $269,724 in state aid and $136,000 in special aids, combined with cost increases in health insurance (up 14.8 percent) and teacher pension contributions (up 39.3 percent).
“The Green Island Union Free School District is very dependent on state and federal aid with just over 50 percent of its revenues coming from these sources. When these aids are cut, there isn’t much that can be cut before you have to start looking at faculty and staff,” said Superintendent John McKinney.
To balance the budget, the Board of Education made more than $356,253 in budget cuts and will use $382,986 of its general and debt service fund balances.
The budget cuts include 5.8 FTE (full-time equivalent) teachers, 2.0 FTE teaching assistants and 1.0 FTE non-instructional position. These cuts will increase the student-teacher ratios in targeted areas where the current enrollment has changed.
The proposed budget does not include any new or expanded programs. In addition, McKinney said as a result of the 2010-2011 budget:
• Funding will be eliminated for new student
placements at Tech Valley High School,
New Visions and Career and Technical Education—all programs offered
through
Capital Region BOCES. However, funding for students currently
enrolled in these
programs will continue.
• Special education costs will be shared with neighboring school
districts, where
possible.
• The number of after-school clubs will be reduced.
• Only two levels of interscholastic sports competition will be
offered—modified and
varsity. Athletic teams will also share buses, where possible, to
reduce
transportation costs.
“The Board of Education has worked very hard to maintain its current educational program, while being realistic about the very difficult economic times,” said McKinney.
The district will hold its annual budget presentation on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Heatly library. The budget vote and board election will be held on Tuesday, May 18. Polls will be open from 2-8 p.m. in the Heatly cafeteria.
