District officials
present preliminary budget proposal

Feedback sought on $833,000 in proposed reductions

January 29, 2009 - On Monday, Jan. 26, district officials presented the Voorheesville Board of Education and the community with some harsh realities by revealing that the district must cut $833,000 from its proposed 2009-10 baseline budget, due primarily to expected cuts in state aid revenue.

The baseline budget amount is the total expenditures required to maintain the district’s current programs, operations and staff levels in the next school year.

The preliminary 2009-10 baseline budget amount is $22,044,664, or $382,226 above the current year’s budget. This 1.76% spending increase is primarily driven by increases mandated special education costs ($299,575), and contractual salary and benefit costs for existing staff ($418,575 and $139,178 respectively). The district will be realizing more than $500,000 in debt service savings, energy and vocational education tuition in 2009-10.

Governor proposes $875,000 reduction in state aid

However, the district potentially faces an even greater budget dilemma because of Gov. David Paterson’s proposed cuts to state education aid, as outlined in his proposed state budget. If approved by the state Legislature, Voorheesville would see a cut of more than $875,000 in anticipated state aid next year. This cut in aid plus the baseline budget increase creates a total budget shortfall for next year of more than $1.2 million.

“We know our community would not be able to support a double-digit tax rate increase to erase this shortfall, so we have targeted $833,000 in proposed budget cuts to reduce our total expenditures for next year,” said Interim Superintendent Raymond Colucciello. “We believe these reductions are necessary in order to present a tax rate increase we think our community would support.”

The proposed reduction amount would decrease the 2009-10 baseline budget to $21,210,903 —2.1 percent less than the current year’s budget. If approved by voters, this budget figure would carry an estimated tax rate increase of 3.5 percent.

“Because of the magnitude of state aid cuts we face, the tax levy would still increase even if next year’s budget is $450,000 less than the current year’s budget,” said Colucciello.

Cuts proposed to close budget gap

In identifying possible spending cuts, district officials sought to impact the least number of students possible, identify any long-term consequences of proposed reductions and ensure that reductions are fair across all departments.

The list of proposed reductions, see sidebar right, includes eliminating both teaching and support staff positions in addition to reducing spending in several areas, including supplies, equipment, athletics and transportation.

“We suggested these proposed reductions knowing that this proposal affects an outstanding group of employees,” said Colucciello. “These were decisions that no one wanted to make, but we have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.”

Feedback sought

“This is the first time this proposal is being presented to the board,” explained Colucciello. “It is a work in progress, and we need the community’s input on it now, and throughout the entire budget development process.”

Community members, staff, parents and all other taxpayers are encouraged to submit their comments, suggestions and concerns at any time by e-mailing the superintendent directly or using the community response form on the district Web site.

The board is expected to adopt the 2009-10 proposed budget on Monday, April 6, which will go before voters on Tuesday, May 19.

Upcoming meetings

The next board meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, and will include budget discussions.

View a complete list of meeting dates.

Visit the Budget Web page.