BROADALBIN - In order to reduce a possible 20 percent tax-levy increase, the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District may cut up to 15 teacher and other staff positions.
Despite the elimination of $80,000 that had been budgeted for new equipment, utilities and repairs for the buildings and grounds department-paired with a $60,000 cut for supplies and fuel-the district still finds itself at a projected tax-levy increase of 19.2 percent. The potential 2010-11 budget is already $1.3 million less than the 2009-2010 budget.
The current version of the 2010-11 budget includes five positions that would be vacant after retirements: one elementary teacher, one music teacher, one teaching assistant and two bus drivers. The school district would save $241,490 if it does not fill any of the positions.
Superintendent Stephen Tomlinson said he would like to reduce the budget another $700,000, which could result in numerous teacher and staff cuts. The current version of the budget for 2010-11 is $29.3 million.
For every $105,000 cut from the school budget, the projected tax-levy increase is reduced by 1 percent.
"It's not just going to be teachers," Tomlinson said. "It's going to be everyone-administration, custodians, bus drivers-everyone."
At the final community round-table event Monday, residents discussed where they thought potential cuts could be made. The 40 attendees were asked to write the top five budget items they believed the district cannot do without. The cards were then given to Board of Education President Wendy Perry to be presented at a budget workshop Wednesday.
"These round-table events at least opened up the process to the public if anything else," Tomlinson said. "B-P really made an effort to offer residents the chance to be a part of the budget."
Tomlinson said he won't know the number of staff members to be cut until the end of the month.
The school board will meet at 6:45 p.m. March 15, April 19 and May 17 in the high school media center. The board will hold a public budget hearing at 7 p.m. May 10 in the high school auditorium.
The budget vote is scheduled for May 18.
A pre-budget survey is available on the district's Web site, www.bpcsd.org.
Joel DiTata can be reached by e-mail at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.