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Revised draft budget proposal increases
spending by 2.19%
District residents would face a 2.19 percent
spending increase when they head into the ballot booths on
May 20 under the current 2008-09 draft budget proposal.
Following two weeks of discussions amidst the
board of education, administration and citizens budget
advisory committee, a few items have been added to the
budget to address the the findings of last year's state
audit, as well as student needs.
The alterations leave the current budget
proposal at $41.9 million, which would require a 3.67
percent increase in the tax levy under the state budget proposal put forth
by former Governor Elliot Spitzer. If the state legislature
and new Governor David Patterson agree on a different state
aid package, that could decrease the tax levy impact of the
draft RCS budget, Superintendent Vicki Wright said.
A state budget is legally required to be
adopted by April 1; RCS voters will head to the polls on May
20.
Additions to the RCS draft budget proposal
include:
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An increase of $95,000
in the new text book line.
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$11,440
for a part-time claims auditor to meet the requirements
of the state audit.
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$18,000
for tuition to send an additional student to Tech Valley
High School. The funding would allow three RCS students
to attend the state-of-the-art, technology academy
The revised draft budget
proposal also continues a number of initiatives initially
proposed in the draft budget that was released on Feb. 25.
Among them are:
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$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.
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$20,000 for an
inventory control system that was mandated by the state
audit.
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$90,000 for field
trips.
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$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.
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$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.
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An increase in fuel
budgeting up to $400,000, based on $162,920 in
expenditures through January 28 of this year.
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RCS would realize savings in the
budget proposal from a number of
areas, including:
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$300,000 in reduced private
tuition costs for special
education students.
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$61,000 in BOCES data
processing costs.
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$110,000 in bus purchase
buyout costs.
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$300,000 in savings through
the ending of payments on a
2003 Teachers Retirement
System incentive.
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"We are pleased with the
proposal as it moves forward. We will continue to review the
budget line by line as we strive to develop a plan that
balances the needs of students and our taxpayers," said
Wright. |
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