Information on the proposed 2008-2009 budget

April 11, 2008

School budgets and taxes are always important to community residents, and as a resident myself, I always look at the budget considering the needs of students first and then asking how the budget could be made more fiscally responsible for the residents of the community.

I am happy to advise you that the proposed budget for the ’08-’09 school year is a wonderfully crafted budget that increases programs and opportunities for students and is very reasonable for the taxpayers.

WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?

Proposed 2008-09 school budget: $41,824,877

Projected tax levy: 2.29 %

Projected date of adoption by the Board of Education: April 21, 2008

Budget vote date: Tuesday, May 20, at the high school from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Some of the new initiatives for ’08-’09 are:

   Smaller class sizes at the kindergarten level – redistribution of current resources.

   Additional Adaptive Technology Equipment for Students with Disabilities - $8,000.

   Project Lead the Way – A technology program already at the 7^th grade level and now going into the 8^th grade level

   School Island for the high school – a bank of questions for teachers to use to assist and promote student learning - $5,000.

   An additional student in the 9^th grade going to Tech Valley – great program! -$18,000.  This will make a total of three  students from RCS at Tech Valley High School.

   Additional resources for Anti-Bullying Programs - $5,000

   Additional resources for field trips K-12 – see below.

   New special education class at the primary level.

   An In-House Alternative Education Program.

Some of our reductions in the budget come from:

   Reduced private tuition costs by $300,000

   Reduced natural gas and electricity costs by $101,000

   Reductions in financial obligations that resulted from a 6/30/2003 retirement incentive program. This will result in a $318,000 savings.

   Pay-off Green House construction cost - $75,0000

Other financial increases to the budget are:

   Purchase of an automated pool cover to decrease energy costs.  RCS will recover the cost in  approximately 1 ½ to 2 years and continue savings – approx. $42,000

   New computers for our students – approx. $213,600 BOCES aided @ approx. 61%

   New unfunded mandate – Actuarial Costs – consultant who determines what our long range costs will be for retirees – approx. $20,000

   Increased costs for gasoline and diesel fuel by $309,750

   Increased the district costs for field trips by $80,000

   Contract Transportation services - $108,000

   Textbooks - $90,000