BCS Budget Hearing On Amended Budget

by Phillip Zema
As indicated by Tuesday’s budget hearing, not everyone is on board with the amended budget. In May the budget, which called for a 1.74% tax levy increase, was voted down. On May 28, an amended budget was adopted by the BOE, and it will go before the voters on June 15. The amended budget stands at $18,281,716, which is the exact level as the 2009-2010 budget. So if it passes, there will be no tax levy increase. Furthermore, while the elementary schools will be consolidated, no modular classrooms will be added at Berlin Elementary, cutting roughly $400k from the first budget. To create additional classroom space at Berlin, the District’s business and administrative offices will be sent to the Jr./Sr. High School in Cherry Plain.
Minor cuts made to instructional costs, transportation and employee benefits also factored into the 0% tax increase. Moreover, the District will spend only $368k of its reserves. Originally, the District was set to spend $700k from the fund balance. As recommended by the Leadership Advisory Committee, the propositions to purchase a handicap accessible bus and spend $100k on another Capital Improvement Project will also be up for vote. Seventy-seven percent of the bus purchase is State aidable, and since the new bus enables the District to consolidate routes, about $25k would be saved in operation costs. The Capital Improvement Project is 75% aidable so taxpayers would only be responsible for $25k (or an average of $4 for a $100k home).
After the presentation ended, the audience was allowed to ask questions. Board Member-elect John Nash pointed out that the 0% tax increase may not be applicable to everyone. If the Town Assessor makes adjustments to one’s property value, that person’s school taxes might change. While there will be no average change in the tax levy, some individuals might see a tax increase, others a decrease. It all depends on how much revenue each of the District’s five townships generate.
Nash also noted that the Governor’s proposed budget has not passed yet much of the District’s revenue comes from State aid. So what happens if Patterson’s budget does not pass? Business Manager Sandra Owens said that it is still uncertain how much aid the District will receive. It could be more, it could be less. But the District can only work within the school budget whether it is an amended or contingency budget. Additional cuts, the District already lost $1.4m in state aid, are not likely, however. She added that if some aid is restored, the extra money will go towards next year’s budget.
There were also concerns about the long term condition of the Berlin Elementary School building. It would cost millions to fully renovate the building and make it ADA compliant, and the process could take years. Some audience members asked if it would be cheaper to purchase a new school. Others claimed that it would not be in the District’s long term best interest to invest so much into BES. BOE President Frank Zwack felt that these issues were not germane to the budget, and he requested that the audience ask budget related questions. Atsushi Akera, a member of the LAC, replied that peoples’ votes may hinge on the District’s long-term plan.
Some people were skeptical that the District would save money through consolidation, especially in the long run, if a large scale BES renovation plan was implemented. Zwack stressed that the topic was diverging from the budget issue, but several audience members angrily shouted that it was not. In response to several of the claims, Gregory said that the District has limited funds and given the struggling economy, the problem is not going away. The District does not have the money necessary to keep Grafton open. Some in attendance clearly did not buy this response.
A substantial portion of the question and answer session was focused around the need to renovate the District’s facilities. There was concern that the pillars at the elementary school’s entrance were flaking lead paint. Gregory said that the paint has been tested, but the results have not come back yet. Also, people worried that the renovation projects would be distracting and dangerous. The reply was that such projects would occur when school was on break. Gregory added that a report conducted by State education officials two years ago suggested that the elementary school was a good solid building.
There was also concern about how much of the $100k Capital Improvement Project would be invested towards building repair. Apparently, there was public misconception about where the money would be invested. Cyril Grant, the Superintendant of Buildings, said that all of it would go towards renovation projects. The primary task would be to repair the elementary and high school ventilation systems. When asked, he said the 2009-2010 Capital Investment Project was focused on repairing the parapets at Berlin Elementary. Some of the bricks on these structures had been damaged due to freezing, making them less stable. Grant added that while the facilities need upgrades and repairs, the District has limited resources and so it must prioritize which work gets done.
Some people felt the bus purchase was unnecessary and that the District needed to establish more efficient bus routes, as some buses only seat a few students. Owens responded that the new bus would help the District consolidate routes. She said that, by law, the District is required to provide a bus seat for each student. Owens claimed that in some cases, it was cheaper to purchase new buses (which are aidable) than to pay expensive maintenance costs. She ended her response by adding that bus route efficiency has improved tremendously since her tenure began.
If the second budget fails, by law the District must adopt a contingency budget, which is set at $18,188,673. Even if a contingency budget is adopted, consolidation would still occur, and the District’s offices would still be moved to Cherry Plain. The vote will be held on June 15 at the Berlin Fire Hall from noon to 9 pm. Information about the budget can be obtained at the District’s website www.berlincentral.org/.