Board of Education continues pause on budget finalization expects cuts in state funding and sales tax revenue
Akron Central Superintendent of Schools Patrick McCabe updated the Board of Education on variables impacting the proposed 2020-2021 school year budget during their meeting last week.
The spending plan is still evolving as information on state aid and other factors develop and is not ready for board action necessary to take it to voters. Projections from the Governor indicate that without federal funding, state aid could be cut 20 to 50 percent. Projections indicate there will be reductions in aid during the 4 measurement periods and that the state may hold state funding until later in the year. There are also significant reductions in sales tax revenue projected by the Erie County Comptroller.
“In preparation for this, our current budget model, includes elimination of two teaching positions through retirement and significant reductions in spending on materials, supplies, contractual, professional development and equipment,” McCabe noted.
Also being considered are tiered reductions, should they become necessary during the school year. “I want to reiterate that the intent is not to reduce staffing. That’s a very damaging thing to do to a district during a year, so should we receive these reductions, that is where we will need to look at the allocation of our reserves and fund balance to get us through a school year, in addition to other tiered reductions, but personnel reductions during a school year are very difficult to manage in terms of reassigning kids and teachers, they often just don’t work.”
“We are still pausing on developing our most recent model of the budget until we see what happens during the Governor’s first adjustment period or measurement period, which concludes on the 30th of this month, then the Legislature has ten days to respond to that.”
McCabe reported that the District has frozen this year’s budget and is only allowing purchases that are necessary for the health, welfare and safety of students and staff. “We’re trying to capture any unspent dollars now that perhaps could be utilized should we receive cuts,” McCabe told the Board.
McCabe also shared numbers with the Board regarding revenue and tax levy. As proposed earlier in the budget process, the current model included a tax levy increase of 1.95 percent. Under the state cap for the upcoming budget year, the school could increase the levy 3.21 percent and remain below the legislated tax levy cap.
Last year the tax levy was $9,875,000. With the projected levy increase of 1.95 percent, that total would be $10,067,709, an increase of $192,000. If the Board opted to increase the levy to 2.45 percent, that would be an additional $49,000, and increase to 2.95 percent, an additional $98,000.
Increasing the levy would increase revenue in preparation for projected cuts, as a district cannot spend more than what they have in their revenue and cannot spend more that the budget authorizes. If the Board chose to increase the levy, it would represent a shift from the last 5 years, having stayed under 1 percent since 2015.
Board President James Grant encouraged the Board to consider increasing the tax levy. “Things have certainly changed in the last month since we started talking about it.” “I’d agree that we probably should look at it,” Board member Bob Masse said. “I think it’s good to talk about it and it sounds like you’re pretty prepared with your numbers, but I think any decision could probably be held for a little bit.
“I think we also have to be gentle and cognizant of the fact that I’m not feeling going over 3 percent because many, many people in this community are without jobs right now and having a vote no budget is not good. I think we have to make sure that we’re thinking about all of those things when we’re trying to set this tax cap levy,” Board member Jody Brege said.
“I would be in agreement with everybody, I think Bob’s on the right page of not setting anything in stone and kind of playing some things by ear. I think that given the time period, it almost mandates that we have to do something just to look for the long-term, as we’ve done in the past, where we’ve just tried to maintain a sort of a consistent level as to what we’re looking for,” Board member Erik Polkowski said.
More information will be shared, as it is available, and conversation continued at future Board of Education meetings.
Capital Project
Akron Central School District Project A meets the guidelines for essential criteria for building projects allowed to move forward. It can proceed, as long as all the work is done in accordance with the required safety protocols specified in the governor’s executive order.
The project may experience some delays because portions of the project may need reduced crew sizes to allow for appropriate social distancing.
The District is monitoring and making decisions on portions of the project that can proceed and the timelines will be adjusted accordingly. The business suite and some site work is set to begin. All interiors work will have physical barriers in place to separate any aspect of the project from employees.
Board members adopted resolutions awarding capital project bids to: Stohl Environmental for Asbestos Project Monitoring/Air Sampling and Analysis Services in the amount of $72,245.00; to SJB for Construction Testing Services in the amount of $28,484.00, and C.J. Brown Energy for Building Commissioning Services in the amount of $27,154.00.
Other business
Board of Education members voted to:
Accept the letter of retirement resignation from Music Teacher, Benjamin Mozee, effective June 30, 2020 with appreciation for his years of service.
Approve the medical leave of absence extension for English teacher, Debra hart through June 30, 2020.
Approve full-time long-term substitute English teacher Brian Burke to continue through June 26, 2020 replacing Debra Hart.
Amend the leave of absence request from Physical Education teacher, Brittany Schukraft dated January 29, 2020 to be effective March 23, 2020 through March 27, 2020.
Approve the memorandum of understandings between the District, the Faculty Association and Caitlin Durkin, Michelle Howland, Mary Moeller, and Candy Scorsone regarding SOCE.
Accept the letter of resignation from Sheryl Leonard for her clerk typist and food service helper positions, effective June 26, 2020.
Approve a resolution modifying the previously approved 2019-2020 school calendar to comply with current and future Executive Orders and directives of the State Education Department pertaining to the COVID-19 Global Health Emergency as they apply to, including, but not limited to, days of instruction, student attendance days, works days for ten and twelve month employees as may be necessary to support district Continuity of Instruction, Food Service, Childcare, and Cleaning plans, until such time that the Executive Orders expire and onsite school attendance and operations resume.
Approve the contract between the Akron Central School District and Rattles to Reading Daycare Inc., regarding the Governor of the State of New York issued Executive Orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring the District to provide a plan providing child care for certain children.
Approve a resolution postponing the annual budget vote and school board election until at least June 1, 2020, subject to further directive as to the timing, location, or manner of voting.
Approve the BOCES administrative budget for 2020-2021 as presented at $3,568,412 and cast one vote for each of the two vacancies to be filled on the Erie 1 BOCES Board of Education for a term from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023 naming Janet MacGregor-Plarr from frontier Central School District and John Sherman of Tonawanda City School District as their choices.
Amend the resignation request for Internal Claims Auditor, Melissa Sanford previously approved on March 25, 2020 to be effective no later than June 30, 2020 pending the training of the new applicant.
Accept a donation to the District from R Say, $00 to the Class of 1964 Scholarship.
Next Meeting
The Board of Education members will meet via ZOOM on Tuesday, May 12. A link will be posted on the school website, all residents may attend online.