Hornell City School District May 2016 Board of Education John McNelis, President Kerry Davis, Vice Pres. Joshua DeLany Jessica Hess Judith Rose Superintendent Douglas Wyant, Jr. The proposed 2016-17 budget for the Hornell City School District is $37,223,952, a 1.82 percent budget-to-budget increase from the 2015-16 school year. Members of the Board of Education and district administrators were faced with two challenges as we developed this year s budget proposal. First, we were anticipating a 26.5 percent increase in health insurance premiums for employees. This uncharacteristically large increase was due to an increase in usage of the health care plan. Second, the district only received about $325,000 in additional foundation aid in the Governor s proposed budget. Originally, reductions in the district s teaching staff through attrition were planned for the 2016-17 school year. A number of staff members will retire during the next 12 months and we planned to leave most of these positions vat. The reduction in staff would have resulted in slightly increased class sizes in certain classes. However, as a result of increased foundation aid for the district in the approved state budget, the district will be able to replace some of the staff members who are retiring, lessening the impact on class sizes. One teaching position will be eliminated because we no longer have students who require that service. Also, a review of the district s transportation system uncovered incorrect information that determined how much aid the district receives. As a result, the state owes the district a signifit amount of transportation aid from previous years and the district will receive more transportation aid going forward. Finally, the district s state-mandated property tax cap percentage is higher than anticipated. Initially, the district expected to be limited to a.12 percent tax cap. Instead, the figure is 2.94 percent. The increase was the direct result of decisions the district made last fall when it set the tax levy for the current school year $70,000 lower than anticipated. Please read this newsletter carefully for more information on the proposed budget. Also, please note the additional proposition that will be on the ballot this year. If passed, this proposition would allow the district to use funds from our school bus reserve fund to purchase vehicles to transport students. There would be no additional tax impact if this proposition passes. Thank for r continued support of our schools. Please take the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Sincerely, Douglas Wyant, Jr. Superintendent of Schools
What Proposition 1 - Proposed 2016-17 Budget Budget Summary Budget Component 2015-16 2016-17 Difference Administrative $4,222,501 $4,383,248 $160,747 Program $22,833,898 $23,111,941 $278,043 Capital $9,502,419 $9,728,763 $226,344 TOTAL BUDGET $36,558,818 $37,223,952 $665,134 2016-17 Proposed Expenditures Administrative 12% 2016-17 Projected Revenues Other Revenue 6.99% Capital 26% Property Taxes 18.91% Program 62% State Aid 72.44% Revenue Summary Description of Revenue 2015-16 2016-17 Difference Property Tax $6,893,397 $7,038,242 $144,845 State Aid $26,482,115 $27,582,245 $1,100,130 Other Revenue $3,183,306 $2,603,465 ($579,841) TOTAL $36,558,818 $37,223,952 $665,134 2
Three part budget overview Administrative Component The Administrative Component provides for the overall general support and management activities, including business office operations, payroll, purchasing, general administration, personnel, legal and auditing services. Costs for administration and supervision of each of the district s five schools also are included in this component. What Budget Function 2015-16 2016-17 Difference Board of Education $27,771 $21,450 -$6,321 Central Administration $482,214 $514,016 $31,802 Personnel and Legal Services $301,361 $251,698 -$49,663 Technology/Data Processing $480,876 $498,933 $18,057 Insurance/Administrative Cost $561,632 $601,832 $40,200 Capital Costs BOCES $166,946 $179,705 $12,759 School Supervision/Curriculum Development $1,177,580 $1,213,280 $35,700 Employee Benefits $1,024,121 $1,102,334 $78,213 Total Administrative $4,222,501 $4,383,248 $160,747 Program Component The Program Component provides funding for instruction and educational support services for the district s approximately 1,800 students. Programs are offered in two elementary, one intermediate and one junior/senior high school. Funds also are included in this component for transportation services (fuel, oil, tires, etc.). Budget Function 2015-16 2016-17 Difference Instruction $8,335,095 $8,157,971 -$177,124 Special Education $3,888,211 $3,536,400 -$351,811 Occupational Education $1,151,839 $1,191,950 $40,111 Library and Media and Teaching Special School $242,781 $238,628 -$4,153 Computer Assisted Instruction $602,250 $471,046 -$131,204 Guidance, Health/Psychology/Co-Curricular $749,638 $715,220 -$34,418 Interscholastic Program $301,590 $350,407 $48,817 Transportation $704,933 $722,279 $17,346 Youth Program $32,000 $32,000 $0 Employee Benefits $6,505,561 $7,376,040 $870,479 Other Transfers $320,000 $320,000 $0 Total Program $22,833,898 $23,111,941 $278,043...continued on page 4 33
What Three Part Budget, continued... Capital Component The Capital Component pays for maintaining five schools, one bus garage, upkeep of property and for electricity, gas heat, water and sewer, and telephone services. Funds also are included for mortgage payments on capital projects (principal and interest payments) and transfers to capital funds. Budget Function 2015-16 2016-17 Difference Operation of Plant $1,379,040 $1,399,494 $20,454 Maintenance of Plant $669,975 $683,685 $13,710 Judgment and Claims $7,000 $7,000 $0 Refund of Property Tax $3,000 $3,000 $0 Employee Benefits $1,046,420 $1,230,142 $183,722 Debt Service $6,396,984 $6,165,442 -$231,542 Transfers $0 $240,000 $240,000 Total Capital $9,502,419 $9,728,763 $226,344 TOTAL BUDGET $36,558,818 $37,223,952 $665,134 How will my taxes be affected by the proposed budget? If r home is assessed at $100,000 Total Increase: $41.00 Weekly Cost: $0.78 (These calculations do not include STAR deductions.) Maximum STAR Deductions for 2016-17 Basic STAR $560 Enhanced (Senior) STAR $1,122 4
Capital Outlay Project This year s general fund budget includes a capital outlay project that will be completed during the school year. This project should include the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all of the district s buildings, bathroom renovations and electrical upgrades. The total cost of the project will not exceed $240,000 and this amount is aided at the regular capital aid rate of 98 percent. By completing this work as a capital outlay project, the district will receive the aid from the state the following year. What On the Ballot Proposition #1-2016-17 Budget Shall the resolution authorizing the $37,223,952 general fund budget of the Hornell City School District for 2016-17 be approved in accordance with Section 2022 of Education Law and that the balance of said budget after applying public monies thereto, be raised by a tax upon the taxable property of said district? Proposition #2 - Expenditure from School Bus Reserve Fund Shall the following resolution be adopted to wit: Resolved that the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Hornell is hereby authorized to expend up to $142,000 from the 2012 School Bus Reserve Fund for the acquisition of school buses, and/or other student transportation vehicles, as the fund allows? Explanation: The district created the school bus reserve fund with voter approval in December 2012. There would be no impact to the district s tax rate as a result of this proposition. Board of Education Election Elect three members to the Board of Education to serve five-year terms ending June 30, 2020. 5
What Transportation review yields additional aid thorough review of the district s transportation data will bring in additional funds in transportation aid. A Each year, Hornell administrators target one portion of the district s budget in the hopes of finding cost savings. The effort is designed to help the district minimize the impact of slow gains in Foundation Aid from the state during the past several years, said Pat Flaitz, school business official. The review found that the district s transportation data system wasn t being used effectively. We went through several years of data with a fine-tooth comb, Flaitz said. We corrected errors and looked for every penny of additional revenue. The state allowed the district to resubmit transportation data back to the 2013-14 school year for review, and determined it owed the district additional aid. In addition, the district made efforts this year to enforce existing transportation policies, reducing the number of unaided transportation miles. The result was a signifit increase in transportation aid for the 2016-17 school year. 6 Absentee ballots If a voter wishes to receive an absentee ballot by mail, a written application must be submitted to the district clerk on a form provided by the clerk by May 10, 2016. If a voter wishes to pick up an absentee ballot personally, the application must be received by the clerk at least one day before the election. Persons designated by the Steuben County Board of Elections as permanently disabled pursuant to the provisions of the election law will automatically receive an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot must be filed with the district clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote, May 17, 2016.
Capital project update Last May, voters approved a $20,160,000 facilities improvement project for the district. Here s an update on progress so far with the project: Intermediate Pool and Roof Replacement Plans for upgrades to the Intermediate School pool were submitted to the New York State Department of Education for review in September 2015. Currently, the district is waiting for mechanical review of the project by state officials. Welliver, the district s construction management firm, anticipates receiving a building permit for the project at the end of April or beginning of May. The project will be put out to public bid after the building permit is issued and work is expected to begin in June. The refurbished pool and locker rooms should be completed by the end of the year. Plans for the Intermediate School roof also should be approved by the state at the end of April or beginning of May. The last estimates for the entire project came in over budget. To ensure that the project does not exceed the established construction budget, only the roofs within budget will be awarded and completed. Roof replacement should occur during the summer. Jr./Sr. High School Site Work, A and B Gym Renovations and Classroom Renovations The schematic design estimate was completed and reviewed, and the estimate was substantially under the established construction budget. With this information, the architect has continued the design process and has submitted the second set of design development drawings to Welliver for the second estimate. This second estimate will be completed in May and the estimate review results will be communicated to the board at the May Board of Education meeting. One item that will be missing is the site work portion of work. Discussions are ongoing on how or if the site lat should be altered. As soon as a design decision is finalized, this work also will be estimated. Plans for this portion of the project are scheduled to be submitted to the state for review on May 11. What We re on Facebook Like us on Facebook to receive the latest updates on our athletics teams, as well as school closings, delays and other information. Go to our website at www.hornellcityschools.com and follow the link to our page. 7
Hornell City School District 25 Pearl Street Hornell, NY 14843 Postal Customer *****ECRWSS** Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Hornell, NY Permit 278 Public information meeting district-wide public information meeting will be held A on May 3. This meeting will include a presentation on the details of the proposed 2016-17 budget, an opportunity to meet the Board of Education didates and a question and answer session. Date: May 3, 2016 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Columbian School Voting information Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Time: Noon - 9:00 p.m. Location: High School To be eligible to vote, must be: a citizen of the U.S. at least 18 years of age a legal resident of the district at least 30 days prior to the vote registered to vote in the general election or at a previous district special registration 8 If have questions about the proposed budget, please contact the Hornell City School District Office at (607) 324-1302. www.hornellcityschools.com