Hilton School District budget process underway

The Hilton School District budget development process is underway through the next two months with a public vote set for Tuesday, May 21. The Hilton School District budget development process begins in December with the 2002-03 Budget Guidelines issued by the Business Office.

Twelve Budget Committees, representing all schools and departments, develop individual budgets for the 2002-03 school year in which building-level and department-level decisions are made by committees composed of administrators, teachers, staff, parents and community members.

Each committee prioritizes next year's purchases of supplies, equipment, contracts, textbooks and library materials based on a "per-pupil allocation." At its December 11, 2001 meeting, the Board of Education froze the per-pupil allocation (# of pupils x ppa) for the 2002-03 budget at last year's allocation.

"The budget committees are reviewing every line item for savings," Superintendent of Schools John Cooper said. The majority of the budget is regulated by negotiated contracts; employee benefits; debt service; and portions of the Buildings and Grounds and Transportation budgets.

Budget Calendar

• March 12 - Board of Education Meeting: First Draft 2002-03 Budget
• April 2 - Special Board Meeting Continuing Budget Discussion
• April 9 - Board Meeting Continuing Budget Discussion
• April 23 - Board Meeting Adoption of Budget Proposal expected
• May 2 - Meet the Candidates Night - 7 p.m. West Avenue Board Room
• May 13 - Budget Insight mailed to all residents
• May 14 - Board Budget Hearing
• May 21 - Budget Vote and Board Election

All interested community members are encouraged to attend the Board of Education meetings for budget presentations. The Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room of the West Avenue Building, 225 West Avenue, Hilton.