Greene leaders tackle school budget
GREENE – Back in January, when the governor’s executive budget proposal was first unveiled, Greene Superintendent Jonathan Retz vowed to shield taxpayers as much as possible from absorbing the district’s state aid losses.
Even then, however, he knew that he and other district leaders would have their work cut out for them as they tried to absorb the loss of more than $233,000 in state aid while dealing with contractual obligations and rising fixed costs.
Now, more than a month and a half later, Retz says they are making progress, but there is still a long way to go.
“We’re looking at spending very carefully,” the superintendent said, explaining that based on preliminary budget figures, the district faces a $1.3 million gap.
His strategy thus far has been to review the budget line by line, a process in which the board of education’s budget committee and Business Manager Mark Rubitski are also an integral part.
“We’re progressing through,” Retz said, explaining how they have categorized spending. Fixed costs are labeled red, areas where there is some flexibility are yellow and areas where cuts are possible to a greater degree are labeled green.
“I think it’s a very valuable way of looking at it,” the superintendent reported.
Retz, who assumed the district’s top administrative role in September, said he has gained an even greater appreciation for the district’s past fiscal policies as they examine the budget so closely. The $22,083,389 budget for the current 2009-10 school year represents an increase in spending of $38,265, or .17 percent, over the prior year.
“This district has done an amazing job of critically looking at spending,” he said, particularly in the last four years. “I think they’ve been very ... prudent in their planning and long-term thinking.”
There is a downside, however. As the budget is already lean, it’s an even greater challenge to identify areas where cuts can be made.
According to Retz, everything is on the table. “It has to be,” he said. That includes taking a hard look at staffing levels and non-mandated programs. And the fact of the matter is, the superintendent doesn’t think the district will be able to avoid cutting positions this year.
Even with cuts, it is likely that district taxpayers will see a larger tax levy increase than they have in recent years, Retz reported. Last year, Greene residents saw a levy hike of .51 percent after two years of zero increases.
“We want to keep that to a minimum,” the superintendent said, explaining that the board has already identified a ceiling for any possible increase.
Each one percent increase raises approximately $58,000 in additional tax revenue for the district.
Retz said he expects to have multiple budget proposals ready for the full school board’s review within the next month. In the meantime, he and the rest of the budget committee are continuing the process of reviewing the spending plan with a fine tooth comb.
At the same time, the administrator is also doing his best to keep abreast of happenings in Albany.
“I don’t think things are going to get better,” he reported. “It’s conceivable that things will get worse.”
Even then, however, he knew that he and other district leaders would have their work cut out for them as they tried to absorb the loss of more than $233,000 in state aid while dealing with contractual obligations and rising fixed costs.
Now, more than a month and a half later, Retz says they are making progress, but there is still a long way to go.
“We’re looking at spending very carefully,” the superintendent said, explaining that based on preliminary budget figures, the district faces a $1.3 million gap.
His strategy thus far has been to review the budget line by line, a process in which the board of education’s budget committee and Business Manager Mark Rubitski are also an integral part.
“We’re progressing through,” Retz said, explaining how they have categorized spending. Fixed costs are labeled red, areas where there is some flexibility are yellow and areas where cuts are possible to a greater degree are labeled green.
“I think it’s a very valuable way of looking at it,” the superintendent reported.
Retz, who assumed the district’s top administrative role in September, said he has gained an even greater appreciation for the district’s past fiscal policies as they examine the budget so closely. The $22,083,389 budget for the current 2009-10 school year represents an increase in spending of $38,265, or .17 percent, over the prior year.
“This district has done an amazing job of critically looking at spending,” he said, particularly in the last four years. “I think they’ve been very ... prudent in their planning and long-term thinking.”
There is a downside, however. As the budget is already lean, it’s an even greater challenge to identify areas where cuts can be made.
According to Retz, everything is on the table. “It has to be,” he said. That includes taking a hard look at staffing levels and non-mandated programs. And the fact of the matter is, the superintendent doesn’t think the district will be able to avoid cutting positions this year.
Even with cuts, it is likely that district taxpayers will see a larger tax levy increase than they have in recent years, Retz reported. Last year, Greene residents saw a levy hike of .51 percent after two years of zero increases.
“We want to keep that to a minimum,” the superintendent said, explaining that the board has already identified a ceiling for any possible increase.
Each one percent increase raises approximately $58,000 in additional tax revenue for the district.
Retz said he expects to have multiple budget proposals ready for the full school board’s review within the next month. In the meantime, he and the rest of the budget committee are continuing the process of reviewing the spending plan with a fine tooth comb.
At the same time, the administrator is also doing his best to keep abreast of happenings in Albany.
“I don’t think things are going to get better,” he reported. “It’s conceivable that things will get worse.”
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