District Looks To Lower Tax Levy Increase, Proposes Further Reductions

administrators presented their draft budget for the 2011-12 school year Thursday evening, noting that although the proposed tax levy increase currently stands at 6.34 percent, the district plans on instituting further reductions and increasing the use of the fund balance to bring the tax levy increase down to 4.39 percent.  

The general fund budget of $64,247,189 represents an $2.3 million increase over the current budget and an overall spending increase of 3.64 percent. Reductions from attrition, savings and other measures total $1.8 million. With no new programs proposed and recognized savings from concessions from staff — most notably teachers — the only increases in the budget are salaries, benefits, and special education.

During Thursday's budget hearing, the and administrators discussed the items they have already reduced to get to this point as well as items that could potentially be eliminated/reduced to further reduce the budget.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Annunziato emphasized that all reductions in staff will be through attrition.

"We're not proposing layoffs at this point with this proposed budget," he said.

Some clerical staff and custodial positions have been "eliminated" through retirement, which leads to a savings in salary and employee benefit costs. Permanent substitute teachers have been reduced by one per building, and three teacher assistants for the co-teaching classes are on the chopping block.  

The district is also cutting its use of Syntax, the public relations firm who handled the district's PR. Responsibilities handled by Syntax will be reassigned to a current administrator, Annunziato said.

Board of Education President Jim March and board trustees requested to visit a co-teaching classroom to observe the teaching assistants. Visiting the classes could help the board determine where the assistants fall on the list of priorities in the budget. As of now, the assistants are not included in the budget.

A historical look at the budget is available in the 2011-12 Budget Presentation on the district website, and includes figures on state aid, salaries and benefits.

From 2008 to 2012:

• Increase in Salaries and Benefits of $6.2 million 
• Increase in PPS / Special Education of $1.3 million
• Decrease in State Aid of $1.6 million 
• Total of $9.1 million
• In the same time period the budget has increased by $5.5 million, a net loss of $3.6 million

The school district also offered an outlook for 2012-13, which could include an increase in pensions, as well as the loss of stimulus funds. All items listed are anticipated.

• Imposition of a 2% Property Tax Cap 
• Program and layoffs could begin 
• Contractual Expenditures 
• Relief from Unfunded Mandates
• Pension Increase Expected
• Health Insurance (double digit increase anticipated)
• Special Education costs should decline with relief from mandates and recognized savings
• All Stimulus Funds Disappear

To view the general fund budget for 2011-12, visit the district website at http://www.bbpschools.org/index.php, click on "district news" near the top of the page, then "budget news." The link is under 2011-12.