Potsdam Central gets a jump on designing 2010-11 budget

POTSDAM — Potsdam Central School officials have initiated budget deliberations for the 2010-11 school year, almost six months before voters will be asked to approve a new spending plan.

The district held two finance committee meetings this month regarding next year's budget, and school administrators are preparing a new strategic budget plan for the 2010-11 school year.

The plan will outline positions and programs that may be targeted for cuts if the district is saddled with both midyear and end-of-year state aid cuts, Superintendent Patrick H. Brady said.

Even though taxpayers won't be asked to approve a new school budget until May, Mr. Brady said, it is not too early to begin the budget-building process. He said time is of the essence given the state's projected $3 billion deficit and a midyear proposal to cut school aid.

"There appears to be a coalition of senators who are standing up against the cuts to schools, and we are of course watching these events very closely," Mr. Brady said. "The impact to PCS is considerable, with $414,000 at stake this year and certainly a larger gap next year."

The school's operating budget is about $26.7 million, with $10.3 million raised by property taxes. School officials say they kept this year's tax levy increase to half a percent by cutting close to $200,000 and applying $660,000 from district reserves.

Part of the district cuts came through eliminating a sixth-grade teacher and several part-time positions and paring back extracurricular activities and sports.

Heading into next year's budget-building process, Potsdam still has more than $1 million in reserves, but Mr. Brady said those reserves will not last long if Gov. David A. Paterson pushes through the latest round of state aid cuts.

The next finance committee meeting is Dec. 17, and Mr. Brady said he expects a new strategic budget plan outlining proposed cuts to be made public at that time.