NORWICH – Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan gave a brief presentation on a preliminary budget for 2012-2013 to the Norwich City school board Monday night.
Since September, members of the board have witnessed a total of 11 presentations on the budget process, from buildings and grounds costs to transportation, debt service, special education, BOCES support services and all other aspects that make up the district’s yearly budget.
According to O’Sullivan, people can expect a budget increase of approximately 3 percent as compared to last year – from $37,090,193 to $38,215,355 – although he admitted the amount may decrease slightly over the next week as budget calculations continue.
The impact on the local tax levy is unknown at this time, as the district waits on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s state budget. Any increase, however, will fall under the governor’s proposed 2 percent tax cap, said O’Sullivan. Over the past three years, district residents have seen very little in the way of increases to the tax levy – 1.87 percent last year and zero increase the two previous years – due to the district’s use of reserve funds. Over the past five years, the tax levy has increased an average of .82 percent per year, he added.
The goal, said the superintendent, is to formulate a budget that is “fiscally responsible” yet maintains “instructional integrity.”
Costs across the board remained relatively steady as compared with the 2011-2012 school year, with mandated health insurance and benefits costs representing the largest increase, from $8,768,640 to $9,327,619, or 6.37 percent.
Transportation costs, as well as rising fuel costs, with a proposed increase of 2.15 percent – or $1,444,253 to $1,475,345 – will be addressed in several ways, said O’Sullivan. The district plans to make some changes, he added, including a more centralized approach to student pick-up and drop-off, and the integration of K-12 busing. In recent years, bus routes have been split into two groups, pre-K through 5 and 6 through 12.
In addition, the board unanimously approved a resolution to be placed on the ballot for the replacement of four vehicles; a pair of Jeeps – used to transport small groups of students outside the district – and two wheelchair-accessible, special needs vehicles. The Jeeps, said Deputy Superintendent Rob Wightman, have upwards of 150,000 miles travelled, while the special needs vehicles are pushing 100,000 miles. All four have become costly to maintain and have been recommended for replacement by the district’s bus garage.
Wightman added there would be no tax impact on residents, as the vehicles would be purchased through capital reserve funds, 90 percent of which would be reimbursed to the district by the state, which has not capped transportation aid as of yet.
“There will be no adverse economic impact,” he added. “This is a win-win.”