Warwick Valley School District faces $3.6 million budget gap
WARWICK A preliminary look at the budget for the 2012-13 school year shows that the Warwick Valley School District must find a way to close a $3.6 million budget gap in order to balance the budget for next year, according to a press release issued by the district on Wednesday afternoon.
This years challenges include declining enrollment, a decrease in state aid, the constraints the district must follow to comply with the rules of the new tax levy limit, projected increases in health insurance premiums and a higher percentage for required retirement contributions.
The Jan. 28 Community Forum allowed the nearly 100 attendees to share their thoughts for creating a fiscally responsible budget that balances the quality of educational programs and the tax burden on property owners.
So far School officials noted in the press release that the district has a projected $3,636,344 budget deficit. That deficit has been reduced to $3,136,344 with the districts decision to slash the materials and supplies portion of the budget by $500,000.
These figures are based on a preliminary $79,352,394 budget for the 2012-2013 school year. This represents an increase in the districts tax levy of 2.32 percent - a figure that is within the maximum allowable limit under the new tax levy limit law.
Many of these numbers are moving targets this time of year, said Assistant Superintendent for Business Timothy Holmes. However, the picture is becoming clearer and now our job is to identify how we will fill this gap in our budget.
As the budget formation process continues, discussions will include what cuts will have to be made to make up for the monetary shortfall.
Options under discussion The district made cuts last year, including the closing of Pine Island Elementary school. The district also has reduced more than 65 positions over the past two years through layoffs and attrition.
We are working to identify all options, from a reduced athletic program to staff reductions and everything in between, said Holmes. After the cuts we made last year, and years of reduced revenue, there really are no good options left.
Community members are encouraged to attend the Community Forum on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center, and future Board of Education meetings.
The challenges well face in crafting a budget for the 2012-13 school year will affect not only taxpayers, but students, parents, staff and other members of the Warwick Valley Central School District community, Superintendent Dr. Raymond Bryant said in the press release. In order to do what is right for our district, we need everyone to participate in the budget process.