South Colonie Residents Approve 2010-11 District Budget 1,645-1,120
Posted May 18, 2010
South Colonie Central School District residents went to the polls on Tuesday, May 18, and approved an $89.4 million budget for the 2010-11 school year by a vote of 1,645-1,120. The budget continues to support South Colonie’s key educational initiatives despite a projected $3.7 million cut in state aid to the district over the current school year.
Complete 2010-2011 Budget Summary - May 2010 InFocus Newsletter (pdf)
2010-2011 BUDGET INFORMATION (PDF)
Overview of Budget Reductions and Program Cuts (pdf)
In what has been one of the most challenging budget development processes in recent memory, the school board adopted a proposed budget totaling $89,395,00 in April. The budget represents a less than 1 percent (+0.89%) spending increase over the current school year.
Though equalization rates will not be known until July, the district estimates about a 3.17 percent Colonie school residential and business property tax increase next year based on the budget submitted to voters, a 4.99 percent increase for Niskayuna residents and a 7.09 percent increase for Guilderland residents.
This means that the average Colonie homeowner whose property is assessed at $150,000 would pay an additional $113.12 in school property taxes next year or about $9.43 more per month to finance education. This is a base increase and does not reflect any STAR exemption savings a homeowner may be entitled to.
A variety of factors hampered the 2010-11 budget development process, which got underway in January with several public planning sessions. In spite of increasing costs facing schools in 2010-11, Gov. David Paterson unveiled a New York State Executive Budget in January with significant spending reductions in order to eliminate the state’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit. Those reductions included a $1.1 billon or 5 percent year-to-year reduction in school aid state-wide and nearly $3.7 million in aid cuts to South Colonie.
While the New York State Legislature has yet to approve the governor’s proposal — once again missing the April 1 deadline — the district had no other option than to put together a budget for the 2010-11 school year based on the governor’s proposal.
To make up for the loss in state budget revenues — a 15 percent reduction over the current school year — the South Colonie administration and Board of Education enacted numerous cuts across each budget area to keep next year’s spending increase at less than 1 percent and reduce the burden on local taxpayers. For a complete list of reductions, click here (pdf).
“As a District we are sensitive to the financial challenges that our community is facing in this recession and we realize that the massive reduction in state aid ($3.7 million) should not result in significantly higher property taxes,” said Superintendent Jonathan Buhner. “With that said, we have made approximately $3 million in reductions to the district’s overall expenses. This is certainly one of the most challenging years that school districts have faced in decades.”
The 2010-11 budget calls for eliminating some 50 positions in teaching, special education, guidance, monitors and clerical support. It also calls for eliminating student field trips, one school bus run, K-6 summer school, professional development, Arts in Education programs and some after school clubs and activities.
In addition to these reductions, the district will use about half of its fund balance or $4.5 million to make up for the state revenue losses. Not knowing if the economic downturn facing New York State and the nation will continue, the district administration and Board of Education will save the remainder of the fund balance in the event that the district faces another year of flat aid (0% increase) or additional state aid reductions in 2011-12.
“Our goal has always been to develop a budget which includes the quality programs parents and community members expect at a cost we hope they can support,” Superintendent Buhner said.