With the recent announcement of ‘deficit spending? from the 2005-2006 school budget, Oxford school officials have already come up with a plan to try and balance next year’s budget.
At last week’s school board meeting, superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro outlined their plan of action.
Unfortunately, Brennan-Kyro said they’re ‘anticipating? close to $1.5 million increases in various areas of the budget for the 2006-2007 school year. Combined with the $1.6 million from this year’s shortfall, the total shortfall for next year would total $3.1 million.
The superintendent said they’re anticipating a 15 percent increase in health insurance ($600,000), $400,000 in step increases for certain contract employees, two percent increase in retirement rate ($400,000) and a 12-14 percent increase in electricity ($100,000).
This is assuming there are no salary increases, diesel fuel increases and no additional staff added to the schools.
‘If someone retires we call that replacement,? Brennan-Kyro said. ‘What we’re saying is that we really need to hold the line on hiring additional staff.?
Although it may seem like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, Brennan-Kyro said there will be increases in next year’s revenue in the form of new students.
‘Based on all the information that we have we’re anticipating 82 new students, which would generate $585,000 in revenue,? she said.
However, Brennan-Kyro said if a larger portion of those new students are middle school students, the district is out of luck.
‘We’re gonna have additional costs because our class sizes (at OMS) are almost right to the max,? she said.
The school district is also expecting an increase from the state of $125 per student in the district which would total $515,000.
Coupled with the $585,000 in anticipated revenue, the district would actually subtract $1.1 million from the expected shortfall, leaving only $2 million to deal with.
To reduce more expenditures and balance the budget for next year, Brennan-Kyro said a variety of review committees, comprised of administration and staff, have been meeting to discuss ideas on how to fix the sticky financial situation.
The committees will focus on revenue enhancement, athletics, operations and maintenance, supplies and administrative services, to name a few.
For instance, the transportation committee is looking at having buses make fewer stops by increasing the walking area for students.
‘The areas where we have children walk in Oxford (are) less than what the state says you have to do,? Brennan-Kyro said.
The superintendent said these groups are not only looking at Oxford, but other school districts who’ve had to reduce spending; all while maintaining an ‘outstanding program? and being ‘efficient in terms of the expenditure of dollars.?
The finalized 2006-2007 budget will be voted on by the school board June 27.