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General News: SBAC Gets to Work on School Budget
February 10, 2011
By Charlie B. Scirbona
During the School Budget Advisory Committee introductory meeting Wednesday, committee chairman James Congelli made one thing very clear:
“This year is going to be a task for us and the administrators just because of the financial shenanigans (in Albany) that have been going on in the past few years and the fact that state aid is becoming less and less,” he said.
The Cornwall school district is facing a $2.7 million cut in state school aid as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s proposed budget. However, Rehm pointed out that while the district may lose $2.7 million, it is not the final number that will be taken from the budget.
Some Aid Increases Could Offset the Proposed Cuts
“There is a potential increase in transportation aid and other possible aid increases,” Rehm said, noting that these increases could offset other cuts, which are still be expected to be significant. The state legislature will also have to approve any cuts to state aid for education.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Harvey Sotland also explained that on top of the $2.7 million in cuts, the district’s foundation aid, state aid that is based on student enrollment, will remain frozen. This comes at a time when the district is seeing continual growth. According to superintendent Rehm, the district has seen a 21 percent increase in enrollment -- or 608 students -- over the past 10 years.
New School Facilities Are Not Part of the New Budget
A small spot of good news Rehm mentioned was that the district will be receiving $569,865 in federal aid from the Federal Jobs Bill that was passed in August. The district had the option to use it for the current year’s budget or hold it for the 2011-2012 budget.
“Every little bit helps,” said Rehm.
The committee also hoped to clear the air in regards to what will and won’t be included in the coming budget. Rehm stated that the proposed expansion of school facilities that was first introduced in November would not be a part of the new budget.
State-Mandated Program Will Cost the District More
The district will also have to budget an extra $156,000 for the state-mandated special education summer program, according to Sotalnd. In the past, the state provided 80 percent of funds for the program, but with proposed cuts this year, the district will only see around 46 percent of the program’s funds covered by the state.
Another difficulty faced by the both committee and the Board of Education is the budgetary needs assessment needs that was discussed during the Board of Education’s Monday work session.
The assessment is a compiled list of new equipment, programs and positions that the district’s schools and departments hope to have included in the coming year’s budget. All told, the assessment amounts to $2.8 million in new spending. However, it was made clear that not all of the items asked for will be included, and that the board and the administrators will have a difficult time including any new items in the face of the proposed state aid cuts.
Committee member Brendan Coyne seemed confident in the task the committee has ahead of it.
“Since this committee has come about the district hasn’t lost a budget,” said Coyne. “The district doesn’t use scare tactics, and this committee allows for real transparency of the process.”
The 2011-2012 budget overview for administrative and program components will be held during the Board of education meeting at 7 p.m. on February 28 at Cornwall Elementary School.
The next School Budget Advisory Committee meeting will be held on March 2 at 7 p.m. at Cornwall Elementary School.
Comments:
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"Rehm stated that the proposed expansion of school facilities that was first introduced in November would not be a part of the new budget."
Does this mean that we are not voting for the new facilities at all this year, or that they will leave the facilities off the school budget, but bring the referendum up later in the year, after the school budget has passed?
posted by Melissa Vellone on 02/12/11 at 11:42 PM
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