The following were questions raised during the Community Budget Forums. This page will be updated, so please check back for more information.
How will the tax levy affect my taxes?
What happens if BKW goes to a contingency budget?
What is included in the building projects?
Is GED funding from federal grant money?
How much in total do extracurricular activities cost the district?
How much does Tech Valley cost?
Can we take a solid look at reducing the school’s energy costs?
Does the district contract any grant
research/writing services from BOCES?
Why not cut pay starting from the top and work your way down as needed?
Can we get sponsorship for athletics?
Why are marching band and field trips back in the budget?
Can we cut 4 core teachers to .75 and have no full time layoffs?
How will the tax levy affect my taxes?
The tax levy is just one of four factors that are used to calculate your tax bill. The others are: your property's assessed value, the equalization rate of your property's taxing jurisdiction, and your property's STAR value. Please click here to download a PDF with more information. (PDF compliments of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District)
What happens if BKW goes to a contingency budget?
Per the state Education Department’s interpretation of the current statue governing contingent budgets, BKW – like other districts throughout the state – would need to limit its spending increase to no more than 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index or 1.6 percent under a contingency budget.
A contingency budget is calculated by removing all non-contingent appropriations from the proposed budget, including student and faculty and community use of facilities. Under state law, BKW would be required to charge outside organizations that use the district’s buildings and fields for any costs associated with that use (e.g. overtime for custodial staff).
Because budget items such as tax certiorari settlements, debt service and cost associated with enrollment growth are exempt from the contingency cap.
What is included in the building projects?
Originally approved by voters in December of 2007, the capital project will renovate and update key areas of the Secondary School, as well as parts of the Elementary School, by upgrading classroom spaces, expanding the gymnasium and library, and creating a new fully accessible cafeteria. The project cost was borrowed over 15 years, and will affect the tax levy by about 1 percent each year, starting with the 2011-2012 school budget. In 2009, the board approved a $1.5 million energy performance contract to upgrade heating and cooling systems and improve insulation. READ MORE ABOUT BOTH PROJECTS
Is GED funding from federal grant money?
Yes. However, it is not grant money that the Federal Government has specifically earmarked for GED programs. Each Grant has guidelines we must follow to realize the funding. We have some Federal Grants that the District has to use for specific programs, like our Pre-K program, or we would lose the Grant. The District has the flexibility to decide which items/programs to support out of Federal Grants or our General Fund. We can use the monies currently being used for the GED program to pay for other things that are currently in the General Fund or to offset the loss of Grant monies. Currently the District is facing the possibility of losing 22% of our Federal Grant monies, as well as the reduction in State Aid.
How much in total do extracurricular activities cost the district?
For the 2009-10 school year, the cost of clubs, chaperones, sports, sports equipment, sport supplies, and officials was $232,600. For the current school year the budget was reduced to $172,723.
How much does Tech Valley cost?
For 2011-12, the Tech Valley program will cost $12,000 per student. We do receive BOCES aid on this program; our current aid rate is 60.4%.
Transportation: Why are we not looking at cuts in transportation? Where are the cuts in transportation?
The District has been looking at transportation cuts. In August of 2010, we were able to eliminate five regular bus runs. In addition, we will reduce two more bus runs for the 2011-12 school year.
Can we take a solid look at reducing the school’s energy costs?
BKW is currently undergoing a $1.5 million energy performance renovation upgrade heating and cooling systems and improve insulation. READ MORE
Does the district contract any grant
research/writing services from BOCES?
BKW has contracted with the Capital Region BOCES Grants and Development Service, which is currently working on writing several grants for the school. Through this service, BKW will be targeting grants in the following areas:
* Instructional Technology
*Professional Development
*Summer School Programs
*Greener Initiatives: Instruction & Facilities
*Science and Math
The service gives
the district, including all faculty, access to BOCES’ searchable grants database, which includes
about 200 funding opportunities targeted to school districts in this
region as well as assistance writing grant proposals.
Why are we sending students to Tech Valley?
The Board of Education has decided to allow the two students (one junior, one senior) who are currently enrolled to complete their program.
Why was Marching Band and field trips added back into the budget?
The Board of Education decided that they should be included in the 2011-2012 budget at its March 11 meeting.
Can we eliminate any custodians?
According to data from the Office of State
Comptroller, BKW has one of the lowest expenditures of any school
district in the area of Operations & Maintenance. The report ranks
districts with the highest cost per student as No. 1; therefore the
higher the number, the lower your cost. BKW is 73 out of 76 in
operations dollars per pupil (Duanesburg is 29th and Voorheesville is
16th). The total budget for Operations & Maintenance has steadily
declined over the past two years and currently comprises 5.16 percent of
the total budget. In addition, once the building
project is completed in
2012, there will be a 20 percent increase in square footage that this
department will have to maintain.
Is there a current teacher contract?
No. The teachers have been without a contract since July 1, 2009. The negotiation process is currently at impasse, which means that neither side could agree on a contract. A mediator has been assigned by NYS Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), and the board is waiting for a date to be set for mediation. In keeping with the Triborough Amendment the terms of the current contract remain in effect until both parties have reached
How much money could be saved with salary freezes and if every teacher and admin staff kicked in another 5-10 percent to their medical benefits?
If every teacher and administrative staff took a step and salary freeze for 2011-201,2 it would save approximately $150,000. If every teacher and administrative staff kicked in another 5-10 percent of their health insurance premium, $61,500 to $123,000 would be saved. Keep in mind that the percent of employee contribution toward health care varies from contract to contract and some district employees are already paying 20 percent of the cost.
Is there any discussion of salary freezes and percent changes to benefit buy ins for administrators and teachers?
The board was originally under the impression that we could not ask for a salary and hiring freeze because we were in contract negotiations. It recently received clarification. It is possible to have a salary and step freeze outside of negotiations by creating a “Memorandum of Agreement” with the union. This is a practice that we are seeing many districts attempt.
Have administration salaries and health care been looked at for cost savings?
Yes, they have. The health insurance contribution by the administrators has increased over the past year and their salaries reflect the difficult financial times.
Why not cut pay starting from the top and work your way down as needed?
We do not have the ability to arbitrarily pick out individuals and reduce or freeze their salary as private industry can. Salaries are defined in contracts and require negotiations to change.
Is it possible for the district to access employee health insurance through New York State Health Insurance Program?
This is one of many options being researched at this time.
It is possible to allow for sponsorship for athletics. However, it would still be the responsibility of the District to determine which sports would be offered. Also, we would need to assure equal opportunities for male and female athletes.
Why are marching band and field trips back in the budget?
Marching band and field trips were added back into the budget for the 2012-2013 school year due to overwhelming community support. The board felt that the music program was disproportionally cut last year and, for a small cost, adding marching band back into the budget would offer more opportunities for the music students. The 2010-2011 marching band will be funded by money raised by the community.
Why is it that everyone wants to lay off teachers? Why not make cuts to the district office? Why is it that we have 4 or 5 secretaries in the district office when I think that 2 or 3 would work?
The board and administration do not want to lay off teachers and has exerted great effort to find other areas in which to cut costs. There are currently only two secretaries in the district office, one for the district office and one for the superintendent. Other employees in the district office include the superintendent, the business administrator, the treasurer, and two account clerks.
State law/regulations require District’s to have a series of checks and balances performed by separate individuals. The business office keyboard specialist supports the business official and the business office personnel. She also receives and checks in purchased goods; receives cash/checks, and completes the cafeteria requisitions. Account Clerk I duties include: processing requisitions; creating purchase orders; paying invoices; and maintaining fixed assets information. Account Clerk II duties include: processing payroll; state and federal payroll reporting; TRS & ERS reporting; and coordinating human resources (such as health insurance). Treasurer duties include: maintaining District funds and accounts; check writing; overseeing ECA accounts; and reporting to the Board of Education.
Can we cut 4 core teachers to .75 and have no full time layoffs?
This was an option that was considered and was factored into the Board’s final decision.
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