Fiscal 2003 school budget outlook
Published on November 28th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Connelly says the fiscal 2003 school budget will be around $1 million more than last year.
Fiscal 2003 begins on July 1, 2002. A long term estimate released last week predicts that a five percent increase from the $20 million fiscal 2002 school budget should be enough to keep programs rolling and absorb the 251 freshmen who will replace the 161 graduates of the Spartan Class of 2002.
Connelly identified two variable that could change everything: health insurance and gas costs.
Health insurance costs have increased more than 20 percent for the past two years, surprising town and school officials and straining both budgets.
“This year we’re expecting a 15-20 percent increase,” Connelly said at the Nov. 20 summit meeting of the School Committee, Selectmen and Finance Board.
Utility costs have also surprised the schools in the past.
“Of last year’s 500,000 overrun, $200,000 was heat,” Connelly said.
As new schools open administrators must estimate costs without any historical data. Last year South was new. This year it’s Central. Also, the heightened scrutiny on delivering natural gas (after Sept. 11) makes estimating prices trickier than usual.
Building project
A ruling from the Conservation Commission that land on the Colonial Park site is not within a wetlands area will save the town thousands. But the schools project is still at least $5 million overbudget.
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