This presentation was used at the district's January 12 Community Budget Forum.

1. Welcome to 2010-11 Budget Planning
Community Budget Forum #1
January 12, 2010
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
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2. Community Budget Forums
• Open process of community participation
• Follow-up from the Fall 2009 Budget Survey
• Opportunity at every forum to ask questions
and provide input
• Present areas of community interest –
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
ongoing
• Budget basics for the community
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3. 2010-11 Budget Planning
• Budget planning is a year-round process
• Economic climate
– New York State Budget Deficit
– 2009-10 School Aid Cuts
– 2009-10 Budget Reductions
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
– 2010-11 Projections & Reductions
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4. Refresher for 2009-10: A Balanced Budget
Voter-Approved
February 25 Budget
90 90
89 89
Cuts/
Savings
88 88
Millions
Millions
87 87
86 86
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
85 85
84 84
83 83
Baseline Rollover Projected Budgeted
Revenues Expenditures Revenues Expenditures
2009-10 2009-10
2010-11 GOAL: Again present a budget that can be supported by the community
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5. 2009-10 Budget Overview
• Board of Education identified more than $2 million
in budget cuts and savings
• The budget includes the positions necessary to
implement full-day kindergarten: Fully-state funded
• All other budget additions kept to a minimum
($37,950)
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
• Staffing reductions focused so elementary class
sizes and grades 6-12 core class sizes remain in
current ranges
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6. 2009-10 Budget Reductions
Objectives: Reductions By Area
– Spread the impact across the district to • Elementary 185,625
limit the effect on any one area • Middle School 132,100
– Cuts that would do the least harm to the • High School 262,476
educational program • Athletics 68,770
– Areas where spending reductions could • Special Education 789,032
be achieved by offering similar • Transportation 304,000
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
programs/services in a new format
• Operations 179,900
– Expected/anticipated savings, i.e. no more and Maintenance
mid-day kindergarten bus runs • Technology 10,000
• District Office/ 169,987
Districtwide
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7. 2009-10 Budget Highlights
• Total Budget $87,560,000
—Budget Increase: $2,790,467 (3.29%)
Lowest in 26 years!
— Budget Increase (Minus funded Full-Day K Costs): 2.78%
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
• Tax Rate Increase
• 1.76% for Bethlehem and New Scotland
BUT: concerned about continued effects of the bad
economy, including the trickle-down impacts from NYS
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8. First, some good news…
• Teacher concessions have yielded $600k in
2009-10; $400k expected 2010-11
• Early retirement incentives: 8 teachers opting in
for 2009-10 yielding $425k in 2010-11 savings
– One year remains on incentive
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
• Energy consortium bid yields flat rates, with
decreased usage, some savings
• Cell tower explorations continue
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9. News from NYS isn’t promising
• $1,574,000 mid-year reduction proposed, but
not passed
• Modest delays in aid, with threats of reducing aid
• Revenue estimates for 2010-11 not available
yet:
– At best: flat aid levels
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
– At worst: perhaps a $4m reduction
– Will federal stimulus funding remain ($2.3m)?
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10. Use of Fund Balance is a “One Shot”
• Paterson suggests it’s a “rainy day” – use these
funds
• Results: fixes 2010-11, but compounds the
2011-12 issue
• Not a good fiscal practice
– Affects cash flow
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
– Affects bond rating
• Underlying structural issue must be
addressed
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11. The Question
What matters most?
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
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12. Community Budget Survey Results
• Topics of interest:
– Potential 2010-11 Budget Cuts 81.9%
– Impact of state budget on BC 68.6%
– Academic Program 44.7%
– Review of 2009-10 Budget Cuts 34.7%
– School Budget 101/Overview 28.3%
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
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13. Community Budget Survey Themes
• Academic Priorities Reaction to 2009-10
– Class Size Budget Cuts
– Combination Classes
– 48%: At the right level given
– MS Music fiscal challenges
– Section and Staffing – 20%: Were too deep
– Total Program Impact with Reductions – 14%: Were not deep enough
• Administrative Concerns – 18%: Other
• Athletics: Night Games, Funding
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
• Budget: Process, Planning, Specifics
• Extracurricular
• Negotiations, Salary, Benefits
• Transportation
• Special Education
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14. Where do we begin 2010-11?
91
90 An Early Projection
Assumptions:
89
– Slight decline in revenues
88
Millions
– Rollover expenditures
increase budget 4 percent
87
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
86
85
84
83
Projected Rollover
Revenues Expenditures
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15. Potential budget cuts under discussion
• 11.0 FTE Teaching Staff
• 10.0 FTE Support Staff
• 3.0 FTE Administration/Supervisory Positions
• Athletic Reductions
• Extracurricular/Clubs
• Enrichment Funding
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
• Late Buses
• Close a Pool
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16. Community Discussion/Questions
• What matters most?
– What are your priorities?
– Where should/should the community not look
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
when identifying possible reductions?
– What would you like more information on?
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17. Budget Process Overview
• Preparing the 2010-11 budget estimates now
• Soliciting community input on priorities
• Board workshops to be held in March
• Public hearing in May, followed by May 18
vote
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
• GOAL: present a budget that can be
supported by the community
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18. Upcoming Forums
• Tuesday, January 26
• Tuesday, February 9
All Forums at 7 p.m., BCMS Library
Community Forum #1 – Jan. 12
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