District continues review of budget

PHILADELPHIA — The Indian River Central School District’s budget for the next fiscal year is becoming less of a mystery with each passing meeting.

During Thursday’s Board of Education meeting at the district offices, Business Manager James R. Koch presented his latest revenue projections, Board of Cooperative Educational Services recommendations and the theater and athletics budget.

The athletic and physical education budget will be the biggest of the three in the 2012-13 school year. More than $34,000 will be dedicated to replacing equipment and potentially creating a junior varsity cheerleading team at the high school. There had been thoughts about also creating a cross-country team, but Mr. Koch said there was not enough interest at the moment.

“Right now, I don’t think cross-country is a go,” he said.

Approximately $6,400 will be used to recondition wrestling mats. Another major purchase will be a $4,000 dual abdominal machine.

“Right now, we only have single abdominal machines,” he said.

He said the high school theater budget will be identical to the current year’s budget. The theater teacher, Kristie L. Fuller, has not requested additional money other than the $26,000 she has in the past.

“The proof is in the pudding. They’re doing some really great things in there,” he said.

Mrs. Fuller also requested the creation of an artistic director position, which was discussed briefly at the meeting.

The district is planning to contract approximately 80 occupational education teachers through Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. In addition, 20 diploma-based alternative education slots are being planned rather than planning for those students to obtain a general educational development certificate.

Mr. Koch is estimating $14,650,000 in the fund balance by the end of the fiscal year.

“It’s a day-by-day, minute-by-minute projection,” he said.

He also predicted the district will receive approximately $14,650,000 in federal impact aid.

He is planning to present tax cap calculations, as well as a budget for the library, assessment testing, equipment, utilities and development of a capital reserve, at the Feb. 16 Board of Education meeting. However, he wanted to give the board members a taste of what to expect.

“I think I can take about $200,000 off the utilities bill,” he said.