Public Budget Meeting March 29, 2007 Draft Budget

Fiscal Considerations 1. New Debt Service 2. Enrollment 3. “Difficult to Control” Costs 4. A 21 st Century Education

1. New Debt Service $1.9 million in new debt service $1.9 million in new debt service payments payments - new elementary school in Otisville in Otisville - improvements to our K-5 - improvements to our K-5 building on the Rt. 6 campus. building on the Rt. 6 campus.

2. Enrollment Current : 4645 students Projected : 4671 students

3. “Difficult to Control” Costs Fuel and utility Costs Fuel and utility Costs Equipment – buses, maintenance Equipment – buses, maintenance Pension and employee benefits Pension and employee benefits Enrollment in specialized programs Enrollment in specialized programs Payroll Payroll

4. A 21 st Century Education E-Learning E-Learning Virtual High School Virtual High School Foreign Language Grant Foreign Language Grant Enhanced Home/School Communications Enhanced Home/School Communications Wireless Technology Wireless Technology Mobile Computer Labs Mobile Computer Labs

What are the new expenses in the Budget? 4.7 Teaching positions 4.7 Teaching positions Instructional programs Instructional programs 3.2 Support staff positions 3.2 Support staff positions JV Lacrosse, 4 asst. coaches JV Lacrosse, 4 asst. coaches 7 Buses, 1 additional driver 7 Buses, 1 additional driver Debt Service Debt Service

What Didn’t Make the Cut? 1.0 Administrator position 1.0 Administrator position 4.1 teaching positions 4.1 teaching positions 4.5 classroom aide/support positions 4.5 classroom aide/support positions $179,000 B&G equip/improvements $179,000 B&G equip/improvements $417,000 additional buses $417,000 additional buses

The Budget Format The format for NYS school budgets groups expenditures into 5 major categories: The format for NYS school budgets groups expenditures into 5 major categories: General Support InstructionTransportation Employee Benefits Debt Service

General Support  Utility costs  Contract, general cost-of-living increases $6,514,981 $6,785, % $6,514,981 $6,785, %

Instruction  Personnel, equipment, supplies and textbooks to meet curriculum needs and increasing enrollment Regular instruction  Career and technical education Special Education  Technology  Testing Special Education  Technology  Testing  Virtual HS, expanded Honors Program, enhanced home/school communications system $39,766,938 $42,762, % $39,766,938 $42,762, %

Transportation  Additional driver position to address growing enrollment growing enrollment  4 72-passenger buses  2 28-passenger buses  1 21-passenger, WC bus  Final payment on 5 leased buses $4,334,926 $5,012, %

Employee Benefits  Payroll-driven benefit costs * Pension system contribution rates and health insurance rates are projected to increase less than 3%. * Pension system contribution rates and health insurance rates are projected to increase less than 3% $15,357,707 $15,831, %

Debt Service $5,091,800 $6,984, % $5,091,800 $6,984, % Our district is eligible for building aid on this new debt service expense. After building aid is applied, the local share accounts for a tax rate increase of a little over 1%.

The Spending Plan Draft Budget:$77,516,449 Increase over prior year: 8.92% New debt service=2.66% Contract increases =3.10% BOCES instruction programs=1.56% New positions, programs=.80% Transportation=.80%

Conservative Spending

The Revenue Side School budgets are funded by:  State Aid  State Aid  Local Revenue  Local Revenue  Real Property Tax Levy  Real Property Tax Levy

Effect on Taxes Tax levy increase 7.4 % Average TAX RATE increase 5.5% However ….

NYS Budget and State Aid … our legislators are working hard to secure more state aid for our area schools. More state aid means a lower tax levy and a lower tax bill for our residents. More state aid means a lower tax levy and a lower tax bill for our residents.ALSO…

Governor’s Tax Relief Proposals The Governor’s proposed budget includes $1.25 million in designated tax relief for our school district taxpayers. Distribution is to be in one of two ways: The Governor’s proposed budget includes $1.25 million in designated tax relief for our school district taxpayers. Distribution is to be in one of two ways: ….. Middle Class STAR ….. Middle Class STAR or or ….. Property Tax Rebates ….. Property Tax Rebates

Impact of Tax Relief Whichever option is selected, the designated share for Minisink school district residents is $1.25 million. Whichever option is selected, the designated share for Minisink school district residents is $1.25 million. This equates to a 4% lower tax levy. This equates to a 4% lower tax levy.

The Public Vote Tuesday, May 15 ~ Noon – 9 PM □ Annual Budget □ Annual Budget □ Reduction of board seat terms from □ Reduction of board seat terms from the current 5 years to 3 years. the current 5 years to 3 years. □ 2 Board of Education seats - 5 year terms □ 2 Board of Education seats - 5 year terms □ 1 Board of Education seat - 2 year term □ 1 Board of Education seat - 2 year term

Our Students, Our Future Vote MAY 15 Vote Vote MAY 15 Vote