School budget draft shows a 4% increase
Published on January 6th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Some good news and some not so good news was presented to those in attendance of the school budget summit on Tuesday night.
Members of the School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Finance & Advisory Board received the initial draft of the School Department's Fiscal Year 2000 budget which included a "bare bones," item by item listing of needs that totals $17,522,507, 3.97 percent above Fiscal Year 1999's appropriation.
According to Superintendent Joseph Connelly, this figure does not yet reflect the figure which the School Department would likely seek at Town Meeting in May.
"What this is, is a needs based, Draft 1 budget. We have given you a bare bones, cut and dry budget. We can't take anything else out," he explained.
Connelly said that the various school heads will be tabulating a list of capital, personnel and program needs in the next few days which will then be tendered to the School Committee for its review. The School Committee will then be called upon to prioritize the list and may add on to the figure, bringing the total budget request upward.
He said that Stoneham's schools must continue to work on bringing education up to state standards and preparing students for future MCAS exams. These requirements could drive the figure up another $250,000, the superintendent explained, bringing the total request to a five percent increase.
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said this figure puts his town-wide budget at a distinct disadvantage early in the process. In recent months, he explained, he has tabulated the Stoneham budget and has incorporated a $17.3 million estimate ($450,000 increase) into that figure. With these numbers, he estimates that the town will still fall short in revenues by $400,000.
A total request of $17.8 by the School Department could adversely effect the municipal side of the budget.
"We have to start deciding what the priorities are because cutting $800,000 from the municipal side is a major number," Nutting stated. "In five weeks, by charter, I have to give the selectmen a balanced budget. That (the School Committee's five percent increase) would require me to cut $800,000 out of the town budget."
Connelly explained that present day education costs are skyrocketing and pointed to media reports which have indicated that the Reading school system is seeking a 10.5 percent increase ($2.4 million above its FY 1999 appropriation). A five percent increase in the present day is a bargain, he said.
"I have to tell you, as an educator, that if you want us to be competitive and have your students compete, you're not going to do it on 2 1/2 percent," he told the gathering.
One major reason for the large increase in the FY 2000 budget is due to health insurance costs which are expected to rise $118,725 (13 percent) next year. In addition, due to enrollment increases, 2 1/2 new teachers must be hired.
The summit gathering decided to lobby for more aid from the state and indicated that the state's formula for Chapter 70 funding (money which is allocated to municipalities each year based on need) is out of whack when considering Stoneham's tax base and median income (see page 5).
The Finance & Advisory Board is expected to meet with State Senator Richard Tisei on January 25 and, along with some school representatives, are expected to address this supposed shortfall.
On the brighter side, Connelly announced that he now believes the Fiscal Year 1999 budget will be level-funded. A month ago, some trepidation resulted from early figures which projected a $180,000 deficit in the present school year.
Due to the receipt of several grants and a "freeze" on spending and various educational extras, however, the School Department now appears to be out of the red.
"We're now projecting that we will not have a deficit next year," the superintendent announced to the summit attendees. "At this point, things are looking much better.
"Any money that we could put a freeze on that would not affect service was done. We pretty much did away with all discretionary spending."
In other school business:
oConnelly said that windows and a portion of the brick veneer at the Middle School will finally get repaired, thanks, in large part, to an emergency fund which was recently approved by the state.
He explained that a state consultant reviewed the damage to the Middle School and approved the spending on the spot.
"He absolutely confirmed that it was an emergency condition," Connelly said. "He said do the work and send us the bill and we'll give you the 63 percent reimbursement."
The superintendent said that the 63 percent reimbursement should total about $160,000 for the $250,000 job. This money could then be used for capital improvements in other areas of the School Department.
Work is scheduled to begin on the Middle School once session is out in June.
oConnelly unveiled a "dramatically changed" format of the budget to the summit gathering on Tuesday night.
The weighty three-ring binder which composes the complete budget will be given to various town officials and, according to Connelly, is accurate "down to the last dozen pencils."
"We've put everything into a much more readable format," he explained. "When you see the budget, you'll see that there's a lot of minuses because of that detail."
Connelly said that school department heads were initially overwhelmed by the work that was involved in such a complete budget, but understood its value upon its completion. They now have easy reference points for further budgets which will make the job less cumbersome.
"Now that it's done, they're all very, very pleased because, now, budgeting is not overwhelming every year," he said, adding that the new budget adds some accountability to the process.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!