Schools

Amity's Proposed Budget Carries 2.86% Increase

The superintendent's 2013-14 budget is the main item on the Regional BOE's agenda for its meeting tonight, Feb. 4. Woodbridge's portion would increase 5.79% and Bethany's 1.81%.



An 109-page report dives into the numbers that led Superintendent Dr. John Brady to arrive at a 2013-14 budget request that represents a 2.86% increase over current spending.

Brady's proposed budget increases total expenditures by $1,247,837, or 2.86%. According to the report, the member town allocations increase by $1,978,046, or 4.75 percent, and breakdown as follows:

  • Orange up $1,106,104 or 5.35%
  • Bethany up $155,202 or 1.81%
  • Woodbridge up $716,740 or 5.79%

According to the report, the primary reasons for the increase are, as follows:

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  • The 2012-2013 budget of 0.47 percent was extremely tight and will not provide us with funds to designate for next fiscal year’s budget to help offset the member town allocations. We were able to reduce member town allocations in this fiscal year’s budget by $300,000. The same will not be the case in 2013-2014.
  • Other revenues will be about $430,000 lower in 2013-2014 than this fiscal year. The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) under the Federal Affordable Care Act has run out of funds. Also, the building renovation grants for the 1990’s construction projects will be much lower next year.
  • The teachers took a ‘hard freeze’ this fiscal year. The contracted salary increases for all unions adds about $721,000 to the budget.
  • Medical and dental insurance is budgeted to increase by approximately $403,000.
  • The new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Teacher and Administrator Evaluations will require the District to spend funds. Federal and State unfunded or underfunded mandates will impact the budget by over $255,000.
  • The budget includes approximately $97,000 for program enhancements. There are no new programs in the 2012-2013 budget and only modest requests to keep the District moving forward in the 2011-2012 budget.
  • Past budgets have postponed needed technology equipment. This fiscal year’s budget is only $49,671. We have fallen beyond on our Technology Plan. The 2013-2014 budget includes $279,029 for technology equipment.
  • The 2012-2013 budget for improvements to buildings and grounds is $0. We have included $121,468 in the preliminary 2013-2014 budget. Many of these items have been delayed for several years and should not be postponed.

The entire report is available on the district's website.

The Amity Regional Board of Education will meet tonight, for a budget presentation and discussion. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Amity High School in Woodbridge.

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