Trustees Adopt Proposed Budget for 2010/11
In the midst of one of the most challenging economic environments of the past 75 years, Huntington School Board members adopted a proposed budget to fund district operations during the 2010/11 school year. The plan will now go to residents for a community vote on Tuesday, May 18 at Huntington High School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The budget proposes spending of $108,786,539, an increase of 3.6 percent over the current year, and carries an estimated tax rate increase of 3.54 percent. School officials made more than $3.1 million in spending reductions during the budget development process.
Trustees spent weeks reviewing a draft spending plan, which district executives released last winter. The initial plan was refined as a handful of cuts were restored while other areas were trimmed. Trustees engaged in sometimes spirited debates and discussions about the plan, before voting 4-3 early Tuesday morning to adopt it and put it on the May 18 ballot.
Trustees Bill Dwyer, Emily Rogan, Christine Bene and Kim Brown supported adoption of the plan. School Board members Elizabeth Black, Richard McGrath and John P. Paci III voted no.
“These are tough times for everyone in the community,” Superintendent John J. Finello said. “The cuts we have made in this budget, combined with significant reductions over the past few years, are real. Yet, we are confident the district will be able to provide our 4,500 students with an outstanding academic and co-curricular experience next year.”
The adopted plan cuts more than two dozen faculty and staff positions and trims dozens of budget lines. Complicating fiscal matters, the district expects to see its state aid reduced by $315,427 from the current year’s amount to $11,946,576. Assessed property values are budgeted to remain flat at $46,128,234. The adopted plan appropriates $1.43 million from the district’s fund balance to help hold down the tax increase.
Trustees also voted 4-3 to move $900,000 into the adopted budget through a “transfer to capital” line. The money has been sitting in the 2003 capital reserve account after much lower than expected bids on renovation and reconstruction projects resulted in a surplus. Without such a transfer, the spending increase would have totaled a more modest 2.74 percent.
The $900,000 transfer carries with it no tax implications since the monies already exist in the district’s accounts. If the budget is approved by residents on May 18, the district intends to use the money to lease three modular classrooms to provide more instructional space at Woodhull Intermediate School. Trustees voted 4-3 to house all fourth and fifth graders in the district at Woodhull beginning in September 2010.
If residents fail to pass a budget for 2010/11, trustees will have to cut another $3,564,539 from the adopted budget as per state law. “Such cuts will be felt by every single student in the district,” Mr. Finello said.
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office