School budgets under limits
When voters go to the polls this May to vote on school district budgets, it may not matter if they vote yes or no.
Because of minimal growth in annual state school aid, schools have developed tighter spending plans, and many districts have proposed budgets that are lower than a contingency budget cap would be.
If a school's budget is voted down the district has the option to put the budget to voters again or adopt what the state calls a contingency budget, which in many cases is a bare-bones, slimmer budget than what was defeated by voters.
Contingency budgets are typically 4 percent more than the previous year's total budget minus expenditures like capital construction projects, debt services or expenses stemming from a court order.
The budget that the Potsdam Central School District put before voters last year was lower than contingency but it was voted down. This year, they are operating with the slim budget and have, once again, put a spending plan before voters that is less than contingency.
"When our budget is below contingency, it indicates we are keeping the budget and tax levy at a reasonable rate and that's something we've worked very hard to do," Superintendent Patrick H. Brady said. "We have spent an inordinate amount of time on our budget this year based on the fact that we are on contingency."
The proposed 2009-10 budget is $26.7 million, while the contingency cap for the budget would be $27.1 million.
According to the state Education Department's Web site, if a proposed budget is less than the contingency cap, the total budget amount would not have to decrease, but certain things must be cut.
"Items which are statutorily considered noncontingency expenses are, for example, student supplies, community use of buildings and grounds, certain equipment purchases and certain salary increases," says the Web site.
Norwood-Norfolk Central School District's $19 million proposed budget is about $338,000 under the contingency budget cap.
Mrs. Ashley said that many taxpayers don't understand the constraints placed on a district when they are operating under a contingency budget.
"If we went to contingency, nothing would change as far as the tax levy, but some of the burden would be back on the community," she said. "Because of state law, we would have to charge the community to use the building and we are prohibited from buying student supplies, like pencils and stickers. It would be more of a burden on the families to buy their own supplies. We're also not allowed to buy any kind of equipment — like sporting and bus garage equipment."
She said she hopes the taxpayers realize the hard work the district has put into making such a fiscally-sound spending plan.
"Right now, we're at an as-needed budget," said district Business Manager Nicole M. Ashley. "It's no frills and no fluff. We're just increasing it by contractual salary increases and what's needed for fuel and utilities."
The Watertown City School District's $58 million proposed budget is about $1.3 million over the contingency cap.
"There was no reason to put together a budget that is anything more than what we've presented," said Superintendent Terry N. Fralick. "It's not very often that we get into a situation where our proposed budget is less than the contingency. But, with the moneys that have come through the federal stimulus package and with us using fund balance to reduce the tax levy, that's what we have. It's almost inconceivable that our budget would be voted down."
The Carthage Central School District's $50.5 million budget is also more than $1 million over the cap.
"We took a look at all areas of the budget and we didn't look to see what the contingency would be until after it was all figured out," said Superintendent Joseph M. Catanzaro. "The contingency budget is what the state says would be fiscally responsible. If ours is a million dollars below, I would hope people would see we're being very fiscally responsible."
