Mission Statement of the Menands School District

Transcription

1 SPECIAL BUDGET ISSUE MAY 2013 Mission Statement of the Menands School District The Menands School District, in partnership with students, teachers, parents, and the community, is committed to excellence. Our students are encouraged to excel in all areas of learning, to respect cultural diversity, and to become valued members of society. We strive to develop lifelong learners within a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. By creating innovative, well-balanced programs that challenge the unique abilities of all students, we are able to nurture each student s potential. We are educating the leaders of tomorrow and value the belief that children come first. In support of this mission, the Board of Education of the Menands School District is proposing a budget of $7,838,649 for the school year. School District residents will vote on the budget on Tuesday, May 21, from 12:00-8:00 in the school lobby. Superintendent Kathy Meany explained that, This budget supports the mission of the school district. We will continue to provide a high quality academic program and a well-rounded extracurricular program for Menands School students. The budget also meets the tuition required for school district residents to attend high school at Shaker, Watervliet, or Tech Valley. At the same time, the Board of Education recognizes the economic realities faced by community members and has made every effort to provide a high quality education to the K-12 students of the community at a realistic cost to the taxpayers. What has the school district done to reduce costs and manage expenses? Five years ago, the school district established a financial plan that is updated on an annual basis. In keeping with that plan, the district has implemented numerous strategies for addressing the myriad of current economic challenges. These strategies include the following: Negotiating accurate tuition costs with North Colonie More efficient use of federal grant money More careful filing for state aid on high needs special education students Rebidding for service contracts whenever possible (i.e. lawn mowing and snow plowing) Negotiating higher employee contributions to health insurance to offset increased costs Developing in-district educational programs instead of relying on BOCES (i.e. for high achieving students and special education students) Scheduling current staff more efficiently Reducing personnel costs through attrition whenever possible Using fund balance to offset the loss of revenue as a result of the change in the Town of Colonie property tax structure Improvements in the cafeteria program to increase sales and reduce operating costs (Continued on page 2)

2 What has the school district done to reduce costs and manage expenses? (Continued from page 1) Establishing reserve funds for workers compensation, employee retirement contributions, unemployment insurance, and employee benefits Converting to a Workers Compensation trust with other school districts Participating in a BOCES consortium for purchasing materials and supplies SUMMARY OF ANTICIPATED REVENUES Change Percentage Line Item Adopted Budget Proposed Budget Tax Penalties $ 5,200 $ - $ (5,200) -10 Interest and Earnings $ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ - Rental of Real Property $ 300 $ 300 $ - Commissions/Miscellaneous $ 1,150 $ 1,150 $ - Refund Prior Year $ 75,000 $ 75,000 $ - Gifts and Donations $ 500 $ 500 $ - Total Local Revenue Sources $ 92,150 $ 86,950 $ (5,200) -5.64% State Aid $ 616,199 $ 649,821 $ 33, % BOCES AID $ 73,486 $ 135,000 $ 61, % Appropriated Fund Balance and Reserves $ 845,500 $ 800,000 $ (45,500) -5.38% Total Fund Balance and State Aid $ 1,535,185 $ 1,584,821 $ 49, % Tax Levy $ 6,046,605 $ 6,166,878 $ 120, % Total Revenues $ 7,673,940 $ 7,838,649 $ 164, % What budget challenges does the school district face? Menands School District faces budget challenges that are similar to other public school districts across the state. Our primary challenge is to develop a budget that provides students with a high-quality education that is responsive to their needs, retains staffing levels and meets the obligations of our employment contracts, and adheres to all government mandates. Also similar to other school districts across the state, Menands faces continual increases in contributions to retirement systems and continual increases in the cost of providing health insurance to employees. We have also had to budget for increases in charter school tuitions, over which we have almost no control, and expenses for providing services to special education students. Over time, our student population has become more diverse on a multitude of dimensions, and we have had a gradual but steady increase in student enrollment. The result of all of these factors is that the cost of doing business continues to rise. On the revenue side of the budget, Menands is similar to other school districts. State aid has been relatively flat for several years and is down overall from five years ago. Now in its second year, the New York State Legislature enacted a tax cap that limits the amount of money that school districts can raise through the local tax levy. The change in the Town of Colonie property tax structure five years ago has also been a major financial challenge for the school district. Menands School District is currently using its fund balance to bridge the gap between increasing costs and diminishing revenues due to stagnant State aid, the tax cap levy, and the change in the Town of Colonie property tax structure. 2

3 What are the details on the Menands School District budget for ? The Board of Education is pleased to be proposing a budget that maintains a high-quality educational program for K-8 students and three tuition options for high school students while staying below the tax levy limit. The proposed budget of $7,838,649 for the school year represents a spending increase of $164,709, or 2.15% more than the current year s budget. Although the current tax cap law would allow the district to increase the tax levy up to 3.52%, the proposed budget calls for increasing the tax levy by 1.99%, or $120,273. The district will set the actual tax rate in August after the Town of Colonie publishes the final assessments for properties located in the school district. Based on current estimates, the proposed budget will result in an increase from the tax rate of approximately $48 on a home assessed at $100,000. Board of Education president Jeff Masline explains that, We are committed to ensuring that the students of the Menands School District are well prepared for college, careers, and citizenship. Ensuring this while combatting rising costs and stagnant state aid has been a challenge. As a district, we have met that challenge. Through appropriate planning, we are able to provide a budget that meets the needs of our children while maintaining fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED EXPENDITURES Change Percent Line Item Adopted Budget Proposed Budget Board of Education $ 15,695 $ 16,082 $ % Central Administration $ 225,608 $ 230,015 $ 4, % Business Admin/Staff/Finance $ 216,883 $ 212,000 $ (4,883) -2.25% Central Services $ 346,369 $ 406,186 $ 59, % Special Items -Insurance etc. $ 71,925 $ 72,360 $ Total General Support $ 876,480 $ 936,643 $ 60, % Supervision. Curriculum Develop. $ 114,490 $ 125,773 $ 11, % Regular Instruction $ 3,195,193 $ 3,284,504 $ 89, Student with Disabilities $ 801,898 $ 690,607 $ (111,291) % Instructional Media $ 175,811 $ 182,594 $ 6, % Guidance and Health $ 132,464 $ 144,183 $ 11, % Extracurricular/Athletics $ 44,550 $ 45,932 $ 1, Total Instruction $ 4,464,406 $ 4,473,593 $ 9, % Transportation $ 698,469 $ 728,936 $ 30, % Youth Services $ 3,800 $ 3,800 $ Employees Benefits $ 1,164,900 $ 1,221,177 $ 56, % Interfund Transfers $ 47,500 $ 47,500 $ Debt Service $ 418,385 $ 427,000 $ 8, % Total Trans./Emp. Benefits/Debt $ 2,333,054 $ 2,428,413 $ 95, % Total Expenditures $ 7,673,940 $ 7,838,649 $ 164, % 3

4 Menands Union Free School District Budget Notice Overall Budget Proposal Budget Adopted for the School Year Budget Proposed for the School Year Contingency Budget for the School Year * Total Budgeted Amount, Not Including Separate Propositions $7,673,940 $7,838,649 7,710,376 Increase/Decrease for the School Year $164,709 $36,436 Percentage Increase/Decrease in Proposed Budget 2.15% 0.47% Change in the Consumer Price Index 2.1% Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Including Levy to Support Library Debt, if applicable $6,046,605 $6,166,878 $6,046,605 Total Permissible Exclusions $262,649 $348,233 A. Proposed School Year Tax Levy, Not Including Levy for Permissible Exclusions or Levy to Support Library Debt B. School Tax Levy Limit, Not Including Levy for Permissible Exclusions Difference: A - B (Positive Value Requires 60. Voter Approval - See Note Below Regarding Separate Propositions) $5,783,956 5,818,645 $5,889,217 $5,911,182 $-105,261 $-92,537 Administrative Component $789,019 $868,215 $823,006 Program Component $6,062,881 $6,073,231 $6,066,086 Capital Component $822,040 $897,203 $821,284 If the budget is not adopted on May 21 st, the Board of Education can submit the budget for a re-vote, submit a new budget for a vote, or go directly to a contingency budget. Estimated Basic STAR Exemption Savings 1 $507 Under the Budget Proposed for the School Year The annual budget vote for the fiscal year by the qualified voters of the Menands Union Free School District, Albany County, New York, will be held at the Menands School District 19 Wards Lane, Menands New York on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 between the hours of 12:00pm and 8:00pm, prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting ballot or machine The basic school tax relief (STAR) exemption is authorized by section 425 of the Real Property Tax Law. 4

5 What is included in the proposed school district budget for ? The budget maintains the current educational program for meeting the needs of students in the Menands School District. As we continue to prepare all students for an increasingly complex and globalized future, Menands School students benefit greatly from the following programs and services: Full day kindergarten and strong academics in the core subjects at every grade Extensive professional development for teachers given the transition to the Common Core Learning Standards and new State assessments High quality materials that support the instructional program. For example, Menands School students utilize hands-on Science and Technology Kits for Children and have a new math series that aligns with the new Common Core Standards Active, engaging instruction in the special areas of art, music, band, physical education, health, and library media K-8 Spanish and K-8 computer technology classes A well-equipped library and computer lab, several laptop labs on carts, and Smart Boards in classrooms to strengthen the integration of technology An in-district enrichment program in fourth through seventh grades and Regents level earth science and algebra in eighth grade Academic intervention services, English as a second language, and summer school for struggling students Bus transportation for all students An extensive array of after-school clubs and sports and a 4:00 bus for students who stay after for activities and extra help A well-maintained building and well-kept school grounds and play areas that are used extensively by students, families, and the community Tuition payments for Menands students to attend their choice of three high schools: Shaker High School, Watervliet, or Tech Valley High School, which is a public school operated by BOCES The proposed budget also addresses all employee contractual obligations and maintains the current staff with no reductions or layoffs (Students enjoy a concert) 5

6 How is the Menands School District be affected by the new tax levy law? Similar to all public school districts across the state, Menands is complying with a law passed by the State Legislature that places restrictions on how school districts raise revenue to fund the budget. Under the tax levy law, each school district needs to establish a tax levy limit by following a complicated, eight-step formula that takes numerous variables into consideration. The budget that voters are being asked to support reflects a tax levy increase that is below the limit allowable for the Menands School District. Because our tax levy increase of 1.99% is below the allowable limit, approval of the budget requires a simple majority, or 5 plus 1 vote. In formulating the budget for , the Menands Board of Education has complied with the tax levy law and has remained cognizant of the burden of property taxes on homeowners and business. What happens if the budget is not approved by the voters on May 21? If the voters do not pass the budget on May 21, the District will have three options: to present the same budget for a re-vote; to present a new budget for a vote; or to go straight to a contingency budget. If the budget is defeated, the District would be able to submit a budget to the voters one more time. If the budget is not passed on the second vote, the District would be required to go straight to a contingency budget. Because of the tax levy law, the meaning of a contingency budget is different than in previous years. If the District were required to go to a contingency budget after two unsuccessful attempts to pass the budget, the contingency budget for cannot increase the tax levy by any amount a zero percent increase from the budget. Under a contingent budget, $128,273 would need to be eliminated from the budget. A contingency budget would require reductions in equipment and instructional materials and supplies and the elimination of any community use of the building that adds costs to the district. (Student actors from the cast of Annie) 6

7 What tax exemptions can residents receive? The New York State School Tax Relief (STAR) program allows homeowners to exempt from taxes a certain amount of the assessed value of their property. All residents are eligible to receive Basic STAR on their primary residence; senior citizens whose income does not exceed a given limit are also eligible to receive Enhanced STAR. The basic STAR savings for is $507 and the enhanced STAR savings is $1016. Residents of the Menands School District should contact the Town of Colonie at for additional information about their STAR eligibility. What else will voters be deciding on May 21? Board of Education Residents will elect one candidate to the Board of Education. Mr. Jeff Masline, current president of the Board, is running in an uncontested election for his second, five-year term. Menands Library Board- Residents will elect one candidate as a trustee of the Menands Library. Mrs. Leslie Carolus is running in an uncontested election for a five-year term. Menands Library Budget - Residents will vote on the library budget for The proposed library budget of $134,633 represents a increase for next year. Who can vote on May 21st? Residents of the Menands School District can vote on May 21 if they are a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years of age. A voter must have resided in the district for at least 30 days prior to the election and must be registered with the Albany County Board of Elections. Residents may also register to vote in person with the school district in the school lobby on Wednesday, May 15 from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. When and where will the May 21st vote take place? The vote will take place in the Menands School District lobby on Tuesday, May 21, from 12:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. (Students perform at the Cultural Fair 7

8 MENANDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT WARDS LANE, MENANDS, NY NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID ALBANY N.Y. PERMIT NO. 421 MENANDS SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE AND BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION MENANDS PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET VOTE AND LIBRARY TRUSTEE ELECTION **Voting Registration May 15, 2013 *Noon to 8:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Menands School Foyer Vote May 21, 2013 Menands School Foyer **To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years of age, and have resided in the district for at least 30 days. * If you voted in prior elections, you do not need to register again. May 2013 Volume 24, Number 4 Menands School Wards Lane Menands, NY Ph: Fax: Kathy Meany Superintendent Antonietta Schroeder Principal Susan Volo Editor svolo@menands.org