Adding long-sought-after programs and addressing state audit demands would mean a budget increase of 1.9 percent next year, Superintendent Vicki Wright told the Board of Education Monday.

Detailing the preliminary budget figures for the coming school year, Superintendent Wright said that as it stands now the district's budget would be $41,862,282 next year. That represents an $854,132 increase over the current spending plan.

"I think it is really wonderful news for the whole district," said Wright of the budget proposal which would carry the lowest spending increase in several years.

The proposal has not been vetted by the board or the Budget Advisory Committee. The B.A.C. began work last month and will continue at its next meeting on March 4; the board will begin its review of the proposal immediately.

It is too early to determine how the 1.9 percent spending increase would impact taxes because no state aid figures have been determined and the governor's proposal has too many question marks and will be changed, Wright said.

In outlining the budget proposal on Monday, Superintendent Wright said the plan includes:

• $213,600 for the first year of a two-year computer replacement phase-in that would also include adaptive technology equipment for special education students. The plan would receive BOCES aid and would begin an initiative that has been delayed for three years as a result of budget stresses.

• $20,000 for an inventory control system that was mandated by the state audit.

• An additional $10,000 for the continuation of the Off-Campus Suspension and Pre-9 programs and the creation of an alternative education program to address BOCES' decision to no longer provide alternative education.

• $5,000 for a school island program to help teachers and students in the high school.

• $8,000 to expand Project Lead the Way into the eighth grade.

• $90,000 for field trips.

• $27,500 for a part-time social worker at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School to allow RCS to provide educational services to pre-school students that RCS must now pay tuition to provide services for.

• $41,478 for an automated pool cover. The cost of the cover, said Energy Manager Matt Miller, would be recouped through saved heating and water costs in 2.5 to three years.

• An increase in fuel budgeting up to $400,000, based on $162,920 in expenditures through January 28 of this year.

• $5,000 for an anti-bullying initiative launched by psychologist Rocco Persico.

• $213,333 for the first payment of the EXCEL serial bond and $96,000 for the interest on the bond - funds that would largely be repaid by the state.

• $104,000 in transportation contracts for special education students. Wright said the district would like to provide the transportation itself but can not recruit drivers to fill its needs.

• $38,400 for increased operations and maintenance overtime costs.

• $6,400 for a summer program at Pieter B. Coeymans that would address student literary needs at the school.

The district would realize savings in the budget proposal from a number of areas, Wright said. That savings would include:

• $300,000 in reduced private tuition costs for special education students.

• $61,000 in BOCES data processing costs

• $110,000 in bus purchase buyout costs

• $300,000 in savings through the ending of payments on a 2003 Teachers Retirement System incentive

• $55,000 through the reduction of an elementary school teaching position as a result of an enrollment decrease. Additionally, 1.5 in elementary and middle school teaching positions would be reassigned to a .5 literacy position at A.W. Becker Elementary School and .5 elementary school deans at A.W.B. and P.B.C. 

• $75,000 as a result of the completion of construction of the greenhouse