by Thaddeus Flint
The Berlin School Board, at their monthly meeting Tuesday, adopted a 2014-2015 budget of $18,084,228 which would bring about .7% increase to the tax levy.
The entire Board voted in favor of the budget, with the exception of Board Member Jim Willis who was absent from the meeting.
The 2014-2015 budget is $222,280, or 1.24%, greater than the budget of $17,861,948 for the 2013-2014 year.
[private]The majority of the budget is expenditures for salaries, $9,309,886, up 2.78% from 2013-2014, and benefits, $5,156,157, up 4.75% from 2013-2014.
According to District Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young, with this budget there would be no cuts to any academic, extra-curricular or sports programs. A new k-5 science teacher position would be created through the reduction of an elementary second grade class. A part time Behavior Intervention Specialist would be added at the Middle School/High School. A Career Development and Occupational Studies coordinator would also be added. Scholastic Reading Inventory software would be added for grades 6-12. This is an assessment program to see if students are at their reading levels.
Other improvements covered in the budget include an AP Environmental Science class in the High School, additional Distance Learning courses, a music theory with guitar class and a woodworking class.
“We were really looking to beef up electorates that students asked for,” said Dr. Young.
Varsity wrestling will once again return to Berlin. The District was once highly regarded in the sport and will next year form a co-team with New Lebanon.
The School within a School Program will also continue. “It is getting students back on track to graduate on time,” said Dr. Young. “It has been successful.”
The District had the ability to increase the tax levy to the tax cap of 1.57% but settled on the .7% number as State Aid increased a total of $168,676, up 2.08%, and miscellaneous revenues are projected to increase by $69,469 over last year. The appropriated fund balance funds $573,806 of the budget. Last year that number was $724,770. A Capital Reserve of $75,000 will also be used.
Residents will also vote on two separate propositions which could slightly increase the tax levy should they pass.
The first is a proposition to purchase two 66 passenger buses, which would add another $28,775 to the tax levy, a 0.33% increase.
The second proposition is for a capital project to renovate the MS/HS auditorium. This would include new curtains, replacing the lighting system, repairing seating and possibly painting the floor. This would add $75,650 to the tax levy, or another 0.87% increase.
If the budget and both of the propositions were approved, the tax levy increase would be $164,524 or 1.90%. The maximum allowable tax levy in that case would have been 2.90%.
“That’s important to understand,” said Dr. Young. “If the School District stays below their cap, any increase in the tax from this year to next year, the taxpayers enrolled in STAR [School Tax Relief] get that all back.”
Dr. Young then asked the Board if they had any questions. In the past couple of years this would have been the signal for the endless arguments to begin. This year nobody said anything, with the exception of Board Member Gina Goodermote who merely asked that the tax levy numbers be completely explained at the public budget hearing on May 8 at 7:15 pm at the High School. “I just want to be sure everyone has a clear understanding,” she said.
One resident, Cathy Phillips, spoke about making sure that the funding would be available for two students who wanted to go to Tech Valley.
“Although it’s important to finance programs for struggling students, those students don’t always put the effort forth and value education,” said Phillips, “whereas these two students do and will take advantage of the opportunity.”
Dr. Young explained that the money was there. There are 27 slots for CTE, New Visions and Tech Valley. Right now there are 33 applicants. Transportation has not yet been decided, although the District is talking with Brunswick and Hoosick Falls about possibly working together on busing.
With the budget completed, the Board moved on to the new business of some equipment at one of their old abandoned schools.
“The Town of Grafton would like to remove the playground equipment from Grafton Elementary School for use in one of their areas, I think a Town Park,” said Dr. Young.
“I’m a little surprised,” said Town of Grafton Councilwoman Barbara Messenger. “Has the Town of Grafton sent you an official letter?”
“No,” said Dr. Young.
“So how can you pursue this?” asked Messenger, who pointed out that while the Town of Grafton had discussed the matter, it had never gone to a resolution. Apparently Cathy Goyer, a private citizen and not a member of the Town Board, decided to skip all the red tape, discussion and all that other government palaver and make the request by herself.
She almost succeeded but not quite.
Board President Frank Zwack asked Messenger if she would like a letter from the District offering the Town of Grafton the playground equipment. Messenger was satisfied with that, but Goodermote was not.
“You are speaking on behalf of me,” she said to Zwack, “and unless the Town of Grafton asks for a letter, I don’t want to pursue this any farther. I have mixed feelings, and right now I don’t even want to discuss this issue.”
So the matter was tabled until the Town of Grafton, and not just one of its concerned citizens, officially makes a request to the District.
Some important dates from the Superintendent:
May 3 – Girl Scout father daughter at the Elementary School at 6 pm;
May 7 – BES primary concert, k-3 students performing; “That’s always a treat,” said Dr. Young.
May 8 – public hearing on the budget at 7:15 pm at the Middle School/High School;
May 9 – This is a half day for staff development and was originally scheduled for May 2;
May 10 – Junior/Senior Prom, with the Grand March at 4:30 pm;
May 15 – 4th and 5th grade concert at BES from 6:30 to 7:30
May 16 – May 22 and May 23 are giveback snow days. There will be no school as long as winter, floods or mudslides do not return and cancel school before then.
May 20 – Budget vote at BES from noon to 9 pm.[/private]