2015-16BudgetNews - Shenendehowa Central Schools

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
the
great
plains
2015-16 BUDGET NEWSLETTER
Shenendehowa
Central Schools
The $162.9 million spending plan for 2015-16…
Focused on raising achievement and improving operations
“We welcomed the new challenges brought by the
implementation of higher standards. We recognize
that while change is challenging, we are turning the
corner and our students are experiencing growth in
their learning.
Our goal with this budget is to continue to stimulate
their intellectual curiosity, provide dynamic and
engaging experiences and protect the promise of a
high quality education for all.”
Superintendent Dr. L. Oliver Robinson
Shenendehowa residents will vote May 19 on a proposed
$162.9 million budget for 2015-16 that includes a spending
increase of 1.72 percent ($2,756,736).
The true value tax rate would increase an estimated 1.04
percent. For a property with a market value of $250,000, the
increase would be approximately $47 in the school tax bill.
2015-16 BUDGET VOTE
May 19, 2015 • 7 a.m.-9 p.m • Gowana Gym
Total budget:
$162,892,823
Spending increase:
1.72%
Tax levy limit cap
3.17%
Total tax LEVY increase:
1.55%
Projected true value tax RATE increase: 1.04%
A property valued at $250,000 would see
a property tax bill increase of $47.
BUS PURCHASE PROPOSITION
Purchase 21 buses to replace aging buses
Total Cost:
$2,101,029
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION
Two seats on the board are up for election
Go to www.shenet.org for more information
Although the NYS Gap
Elimination Adjustment
was not fully restored,
Shen’s proposed 2015-16
budget preserves current
programs and services, allows for some program enhancements, is under the
tax levy cap and includes
the lowest tax levy increase
in 10 years.
Program
enhancements
After years of making
reductions to balance the
budget and reposition the
district financially, the 201516 budget provides opportunities for restorations and
program enhancements.
Staff would be added in key areas to address:
• Academic capacity—address class sizes at the secondary
level in the core subject areas and provide additional
staff to support the needs of students in AIS, acceleration
and special education K-12.
• Academic rigor—expand high school course offerings and the pathways to graduation with the addition
of courses such as aerospace and English 10 honors.
Provide funds for every student in gr. 10 and 11 to take
the PSAT (preliminary college entrance exam used to
determine advance placement eligibility) to increase
access and participation in AP courses.
• Technology—continue investment in mobile devices
with the purchase of 800 Chromebooks for secondary
use and 350 iPads for elementary use.
• Support—contract with outside agencies to offer students in need of mental health services the opportunity
to receive them in school; provide additional summer
work days for high school and middle school counselors
to be available to students and families; and provide
Continued on page 2
Shenendehowa Central Schools
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
The spending plan for 2015-16 focused on raising achievement and improving operations
(continued from page 1)...
additional elementary library
resources.
PAGE
2
• Mandates—address the needs
of a growing English as New
Language Learners population;
implement the Common Core
Assessments and prepare for
new graduation benchmarks for
Math and ELA Regents requirements.
• Safety—increase bus driver
training; install cameras and GPS
systems on all buses; provide additional cameras for building security; install networked pinpads
for building entrances; provide
additional monitor support and
security for traffic control.
• Energy efficiency—network all
energy systems to provide the
ability to shut off systems not in
use from a remote location.
Strategic Reductions
Estimated reductions will offset
some of the costs of the program
enhancements, including reductions
in:
Vote May 19
7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Gowana Gym
• 2015-16
School Budget
• Bus Resolution
• Two Seats on
the Board of
Education
Absentee ballots
are available at
the district office
by calling the
district clerk at
881-0623
Tax Levy Limit
Shenendehowa’s maximum allowable tax levy limit is 3.17 percent. However,
the proposed 2015-16 budget would increase the total tax levy by 1.55 percent
(the lowest tax levy increase in 10 years), which is less than what the tax levy
limit law allows. Because of this, the 2015-16 budget proposal requires a simple
majority (more than 50%) to pass.
This legislation applies to the tax levy, not to tax rates or individual tax bills.
The tax levy is the total amount of tax dollars collected by the district.
“This budget preserves current programs and provides additional resources to
improve student achievement while staying well below the tax levy cap,” said Dr.
L. Oliver Robinson.
“We did not simply add to the budget to meet the tax levy cap or because we
received additional state aid, but instead strategically added resources that will
benefit students and that we will be able to sustain moving forward.”
Second proposition
Replace aging buses
In an ongoing effort to keep Shen’s
bus fleet in safe working condition and
decrease maintenance costs, residents will
vote on a proposition that would allow
the district to buy 21 vehicles including: 72-passenger buses, wheel chair lift
24-passenger buses, 29-passenger type A
van buses and 7-passenger SUV type buses.
• Teacher and employee retirement
system contributions
The district would investigate options
to purchase and/or lease buses depending on which option provides the lowest
cost and best return on investment over a five-year period.
• BOCES and contracted expenditures as a result of the stabilization of outside placements for
students with special needs
The cost to purchase these vehicles would be $2,101,029, of which 60 percent would be reimbursed through state transportation aid, resulting in a 0.18
percent tax rate increase. This is approximately a 3.2 cent increase per $1,000
of assessed value and would not take effect until 2016-17.
• Transportation costs (i.e., substitute costs, natural gas costs) as a
result of routing efficiencies
Did you know?
• Costs for copiers by leasing
through BOCES
• Charter school enrollment costs
• Rental fees for fitness equipment
Budget is under the
The district’s 200 buses travel 2.2 million miles per year. Every Shen bus
driver participates in 75-100 hours of behind-the-wheel and classroom training before they drive students. After that, bus drivers attend up to five hours of
training each school year on various topics including student management,
defensive driving, accident avoidance, disaster preparedness and first aid. All
bus drivers are subject to fingerprinting, federal drug and alcohol screening,
annual defensive driving tests, biennial behind-the-wheel road tests and physical performance tests.
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Demistifying the state aid increase
With a lot of fanfare, the state announced it was increasing state aid to
schools by $1.4 billion. While any increase in aid is good for schools, the truth
of the story always lies within the details, the first being that the increase in
aid is contingent on teacher evaluations being negotiated by November 15.
State aid
PAGE
There are three major factors to consider when analyzing state aid
increases: Foundation Aid, expenditure-driven aid and the Gap Elimination
Adjustment (GEA).
• Foundation Aid, which is the general aid category that supports programs
offered to students and helps mitigate the tax levy increase, has remained
relatively flat for Shenendehowa over the past several years, increasing in
2015-16 by $100,000.
• Any increase in expenditure-driven aid is a result of an increase in what
was spent the prior year for transportation, building debt, BOCES and
special education.
• When the state budget was adopted, additional aid to schools was largely
targetted toward reducing the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). The
GEA was imposed on districts in 2010-11 to help the state with its budget
crisis. For Shen, the announced increase in aid translates to the GEA being
reduced from a loss of $4,174,124 to a loss of $2,588,593 in state aid.
Since the GEA reduction was enacted four years ago, Shen has lost more
than $30.4 million in state aid.
Lower state aid shifts the cost of education
Despite increases in state aid for 2015-16, the amount of state
aid to Shenendehowa is still less than it was seven years ago.
Amount of State Aid to Shen:
$42,783,912
2015-16
$41,079,148
2014-15
$39,321,190
2013-14
$37,501,759
2012-13
$38,780,353
2011-12
$39,918,889
2010-11
$44,360,399
2009-10
3
Shenendehowa Central Schools
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
The tax levy balancing act...
When discussing a school budget, people usually
think that spending is the only factor driving the tax
levy. However, the chart to the right illustrates that
Shen’s revenue from state aid—which accounts for
less than 27% of the budget—still plays a major role
in the tax levy balancing act.
PAGE
4
The proposed
2015-16 budget
carries the lowest
tax levy increase
in 10 years.
Spending Increase
Tax Levy Increase
State Aid Increase/Decrease
5.0% 4.0% 3.0% -
The two years when spending increases were less
than one percent resulted in a much higher tax rate
increase due to decreases in state aid. This is when the
state enacted the Gap Elimination Adjustment to fix
its budget shortfall.
2.0% -
It also illustrates that with an increase in state aid
for the last three years, the rate of the tax levy increase
has been on a downward trend. In fact, the proposed
2015-16 budget carries the lowest tax levy increase in
10 years.
-4.0
1.0% 0
-2.0
4.85%
4.55%
3.11%
3.45%
2.98%
1.7%
2.80%
0.82%
0.22%
4.47% 4.15%
2.15%
1.89%
1.72%
1.55%
-2.85%
-3.30%
-6.0
-8.0
-10.0
-10.01%
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Projected tax impact on homeowners
The following figures are based on estimated assessment values* (2014-15 values increased by .5%). Assessments are determined by the towns. Final data on
assessments and equalization rates are not available to the district until July/August, prior to setting the tax levy and printing tax bills.
Town
Full Market Value* Clifton Park
Halfmoon
Malta
Waterford
Ballston Stillwater
Equalization Rate** Taxable Assessed Value***
$250,000
58.00
$250,00062.00
$250,000100.00
$250,00037.50
$250,000
95.80
$250,00097.00
$145,000
$155,000
$250,000
$93,750
$239,500
$242,500
Est. Tax Rate Per $1,000
$30.93
$28.94
$17.94
$47.84
$18.73
$18.49
Est. Total Tax Bill
$4,485
$4,485
$4,485
$4,485
$4,485
$4,485
*Full market value is the estimated current selling price of a home.
**Equalization rates used above are the 2014-15 equalization rates. These rates are established by the NYS Office of Real Property Services and used to determine the percentage of the total tax levy each town must pay. They are usually finalized in August.
***Taxable assessed value is the amount used in calculating the actual tax bill once the equalization rates have been applied.
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Contingency
Budget Info
Under the tax levy cap law, if a
district fails to get voter approval
twice, it must adopt a contingent
budget with NO INCREASE in the tax
levy. In other words, Shenendehowa
would have to cut an additional $1.7
million from its proposed 2015-16
budget which is equal to approximately XX staff positions.
All non-contingency expenses
must be removed. This includes:
student supplies, community use
of buildings and grounds, certain
equipment purchases and certain
salary increases (typically noncontractual increases).
PAGE
5
Shenendehowa Central Schools
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
State-required School District Budget Notice
State law requires school districts to distribute this state-designed budget notice to district residents after the public
hearing, but no later than six days prior to the school budget vote.
Overall budget proposal
PAGE
6
The annual budget
vote for the fiscal
year 2015-16
by the qualified
voters of the
Shenendehowa
Central School
District, Saratoga
County, New York,
will be held in the
gymnasium at
Gowana Middle
School in said
district on Tuesday,
May 19, 2015,
between the hours
of 7:00 a.m.
and 9:00 p.m.,
prevailing time,
at which time the
polls will be opened
to vote by voting
ballot or machine.
Budget
for the 2014-15
school year
Budget proposed
for the 2015-16
school year
Contingency budget
for the 2015-16
school year*
Total Budgeted Amount, Not Including Separate Propositions
$160,136,087
$162,892,823
$161,134,206
Increase/Decrease for the 2015-16 School Year
$1,758,616
$998,821
Percentage Increase/Decrease in Proposed Budget
1.72%
.620%
Change in the Consumer Price Index
1.62%
A. Proposed Tax Levy to Support Library Debt, if Applicable $113,482,482$115,241,099
B. Levy to Support Library Debt, if Applicable
NA
NA
C. Levy for Non-Excludable Propositions, if Applicable**
NA
NA
D. Total Tax Cap Reserve Used to Reduce Current Year Levy
$0
$0
$113,482,482
$115,241,099
$3,146,699
$3,532,136
E. Total Proposed School Year Tax Levy (A+B+C-D)
F. Permissible Exclusions to the School Tax Levy Limit
G. School Tax Levy Limit, Excluding Levy for Permissible Exclusions$110,874,238
H. Total Proposed Tax Levy for School Purposes, Excluding
Permissible Exclusions and Levy for Library Debt,
Plus Prior Year Tax Cap Reserve (E-B-F+D)
I. Difference: (G-H); (Negative Value Requires 60.0% Voter
Approval (See Note Below Regarding Separate Propositions)**
$113,482,482
$113,544,054
$110,335,783$111,708,963
$538,455
$1,835,091
$15,427,742
$15,687,865
$15,565,198
Program component
$121,690,637
$122,669,446
$121,306,169
Capital component
$23,017,708
$24,535,512
$24,262,839
Administrative component
* CONTINGENT BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS: The
contingent budget assumes no increase in
the tax levy over the 2014-15 budget. Budget
cuts were pro-rated across all three component
parts of the budget. Non-contingency items
must be removed including: student supplies,
community use of facilities, certain equipment
purchases and certain non-contractual salary
increases. In addition to this limitation, the
percentage of the administrative component for
the contingency budget cannot be greater than
the percentage from the previous year.
**Separate Propositions
DescriptionAmount
Bus Proposition
$2,101,029
Estimated Basic STAR
Exemption Savings
Average Basic STAR Tax Savings for
2014-15 Budget Proposal is $687.
Maximum Allowable Tax
Levy Limit
Using a complicated 8-step formula developed by the Office of the
State Comptroller, Shen’s 2015-16
maximum allowable tax levy limit is
3.17 percent. However, the proposed
2015-16 budget would increase the
tax levy by 1.55 percent ($1,835,091)
below what the law allows.
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Proposed 2015-16 Expenditures
Budgeted 2014-15 Projected 2015-16
Program Budget: 75.31% of Budget
Instruction
$71,083,237$72,860,172
Pupil Transportation
8,523,922
8,627,172
Central Svc & Legal Costs
1,588,613
1,662,272
In-service Training
205,155
197,789
Community Service
19,150
17,650
Transfers
Employee Benefits
TOTAL
255,000350,000
40,015,560
38,954,392
$121,690,637$122,669,447
PAGE
7
Proposed 2015-16 Revenues
Budgeted 2014-15 Projected 2015-16
Property Taxes: 70.75% of Budget
Property Taxes
Capital Budget: 15.06% of Budget Operation & Maintenance
$8,336,301
$8,678,229
100,000
100,000
1,007,125
1,016,965
10,765,000
11,675,000
2,801,782
3,057,818
Tax Certiorari
BOCES Administration/Facilities
Debt Service-Building/Buses
Employee Benefits
Unclassified
TOTAL
7,5007,500
$23,017,708$24,535,512
Administrative Budget: 9.63% of Budget
$113,482,482
$115,241,099
State Aid: 26.27% of Budget
Foundation Aid
$26,910,196
$27,011,397
1,395,173
1,069,992
973,339
969,202
<4,174,125>
<2,588,593>
BOCES Aid
2,023,206
1,977,520
Building Aid
6,422,045
6,781,971
Excess Cost Aid
Instructional Material Aid
Gap Elimination Adjustment
Transportation Aid
TOTAL
7,529,313
7,562,423
$41,079,14742,783,912
Board of Education
$46,300
$49,300
Other Items: .89% of Budget
Central Administration
401,403
409,967
Interest Earnings
$90,000
$15,000
Tuitions & Admissions
210,000
160,500
Rentals, Sales, Refunds & Other
340,175
412,175
Federal Reimbursements
300,000
300,000
Finance
1,082,8131,112,032
Personnel/Records Mgmt
476,260
482,827
Central Svc & Legal Costs
1,331,355
1,378,842
Insurance
667,351714,066
Public Information
151,780
150,584
Curriculum Development
203,400
206,593
5,365,312
5,573,010
School Supervision
Other Tax Items
TOTAL
474,282
570,137
$1,414,457$1,457,812
Fund Balance: 2.09% of Budget
Research/Evaluation/Planning496,880 501,177
Appropriated
Pupil Transportation
Re-appropriated Employee Benefits
Employee Benefits
TOTAL
172,786
181,871
5,032,102
4,927,795
$15,427,742$15,688,064
Total Expenditures: $2,750,000$2,000,000
Use of Retirement Reserve
TOTAL
660,000
750,000
750,000
$4,160,000$3,410,000
Total Revenues:
$160,136,087
$162,892,823
660,000
$160,136,087$162,892,823
Shenendehowa
BOARD of
EDUCATION
Central
William Casey, President 5 Chelsea Place, Clifton Park, NY
Robert Pressly, Vice Pres.
Mary Blaauboer
Gary DiLallo
Todd Gilbert
Janet Grey
James Trainor
Superintendent
Dr. L. Oliver Robinson
Editor
Kelly DeFeciani
Shenendehowa Central Schools
PAGE
8
The complete budget
complies with the
regulations set by
2015-16 Budget Newsletter
When/where is the
vote?
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Gowana Middle School Gym
Who can vote?
You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years
or older and have been a Shenendehowa district resident
Department requiring for at least 30 days prior to the vote. No preregistration is
school districts required but official personal identification with photo is
required at the polls. It is a crime to falsify votes (i.e., votto include salary
ing twice, or using false identification).
the N.Y.S. Education
information as well as
student achievement.
Copies are available
on Shen’s website
(www.shenet.org),
in the main office of
each school and at
the district office. If
you have questions,
please call the
Can’t get to the polls?
Absentee ballots may be used by any resident who will
not be available to come to the campus to vote. They are
available at the district office, 5 Chelsea Place, Clifton Park.
For information, call the district clerk at 881-0623. By law,
absentee ballots are mailed to any resident who is disabled.
If you are disabled and did not receive one, please call the
district clerk’s office. Ballots must be returned to the district
clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 19.
Directions to the polls
Gowana Middle School is located on Shen’s main campus. Enter the campus using the Route 146 entrance and
office at 881-0610. then bear left. Gowana is on the right.
superintendent’s
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1
Clifton Park, NY
Schools
Three candidates vie
for two seats on the
board
Two seats on Shenendehowa’s Board of Education are up
for election. Each carries a three-year term.
Samuel H. Hazleton V, of Clifton Park,
is seeking his first term on the board. He is the
owner and CEO of Efficiency Partners, LLC. He
holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of
Albany in business administration. He and his
wife have five children, one currently attends
Shen and four have graduated.
Robert Pressly, of Rexford, is the Vice
President of the Board of Education and
is seeking his second term. He is currently
employed as a Commercial Manager at Momentive Performance Materials and is a retired
Colonel from the US Marine Corps Reserve. He
has a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering
from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s
degree in public administration from the
University of Oklahoma. He and his wife have
two children who attend Shen.
Christina Rajotte, of Halfmoon, is seeking her first term on the board. She is currently
employed as the Director of Development and
Community Relations at Equinox, Inc. She
has a bachelor’s degree in communications/
journalism from St. John Fisher College and
she is working toward a CFRE (Certification for
Fundraising Executives). She and her husband
have three children who attend Shen.
Kerensa Rybak, of Ballston Lake, is
seeking her first term on the board. She studied
pre-med at Arizona State University. She and
her husband have five children who attend
Shen.