OXFORD – Representatives of the Oxford Academy and Central School District recently discussed the district’s million dollar budget gap, and how health insurance cost increases impacted the school’s financial plan.

According to Oxford Academy and Central School District Superintendent John Hillis, at the end of January, the governor’s budget was released, and the Oxford School District was notified of its state aid allotment with a sizable budget gap.

The news comes after the New York State Comptroller’s Office placed the Oxford School District in the susceptible to fiscal stress category in 2019.

“We had a budget gap of $466,000,” said Hillis. “We predicted in advance things were going to be tough, however, nothing could prepare us for what we’d soon be facing.”

He said shortly thereafter, more data came in requiring an increase to the $19,470,390 budget due to an unexpected increase in health insurance costs.

“In a matter of weeks, as our cost adjustments were being fine-tuned, our budget gap escalated from $466,000 to $517,000 to $695,000 and on to our current gap of $1,028,000,” he added. “We currently have a budget shortfall of over $1 million.”