Health benefits, fuel costs push Brockport school budget increases

Health benefits, fuel costs push
Brockport school budget increases

The proposed Brockport Central School budget doesn't cut any positions nor does it offer any frills. Employee health benefits, increase mandated costs for BOCES expenses, fuel and natural gas increases and state mandates have driven the BCS budget to a 4.7 percent increase, according to district personnel.

The new tax rate under the proposed $62,355,475 budget will be $25.48 per $1,000 of true property value. Last year's budget was $59,169,745 and brought with it a tax rate of $24.17 per $1,000. Proposed tax rate figures hinge on the district receiving the amount the state has promised in state aid.

"It's important for people to know this process starts in September and is very intense," Assistant Superintendent of Finance James Wood said. "We work to refine the budget and report regularly to the board on our progress. It's a collaborative process that seems to work."

Wood said officials had shaved about $2 million in expenses to bring the budget numbers to the level that were presented to the public. "We think we have everything in the budget that needs to be in the budget to ensure we have a successful school year," he said.

The budget, which was adopted by the board last week, included an additional $900,000 increase in state aid.

There are 11 positions within the district that will not be filled in the coming school year, he said, adding that the vacated positions were due to resignations or retirement. Other cuts made to the budget included, $17,000 in equipment and supplies; $68,000 in non-instructional staff and $1,257,000 in instructional staff.

Increases in the budget fell heavily on increased fuel costs, health benefits, BOCES mandates and heating costs for the buildings and totaled $2,935,730. Close to $700,000 had to be budgeted for increases in health insurance.

"The proposed budget is a little below the contingency budget figures," he said. "This is an adequate budget, it maintains programs and offers nothing new and no staff increases. It's purely bare bones operating expenses."

The budget will be presented to the public on May 2 at 7 p.m. and on May 16 they will be asked to vote on it.

Also included in the budget vote will be Proposition 2 for the purchase of new school buses ($790,000); Proposition 3 a maintenance bond for $2.2 million (included in this proposition are the highest priority (health and safety) items from the district's five-year facility maintenance plan. Items include a replacement transformer for the high school and replacement emergency generators in four other buildings. The bond is eligible for 82.6 percent in state aid, minimizing the impact on local taxpayers. Work would be completed in the summer of 2007.