BC News

Community budget forums set for January, February

Release Date: Dec. 14, 2009

The district is preparing for another difficult round of budget planning as it looks forward to a community forum series beginning January 12.

Again, the economic climate, the state’s fiscal challenges, and the imperative to deliver a high-quality program for all students in a cost effective way are at the forefront of 2010-11 budget planning.

“One of the lessons of last year is that navigating this tough economic terrain is best done as a community, and I think the conversations at our budget forums will be shaped by these realities,” Superintendent Michael Tebbano said. “I encourage everyone to bring their questions and feedback to the forums.”

Community budget forums are scheduled for Tuesdays, January 12 and 26 and February 9. The forums will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Bethlehem Central Middle School Library. Forum summaries and supporting materials will be posted on the district's Web site following each evening.

Like last fall, talk of the state budget and its implications for districts got off to an early start this year, with Governor David Paterson proposing a mid-year aid cut to New York’s districts to help close the state’s budget deficit. The Governor has also warned legislators that, without such a cut, the state would face a cash-flow problem that could result in lagging aid payments to school districts and municipalities.

This year, the district is receiving the savings from the teachers’ contract concessions agreed to last year, estimated at about $600,000. It continues to explore savings and efficiencies in all other areas.

“If history is our guide, we can expect a difficult time next year as far as state aid is concerned,” said Bethlehem’s Chief Business and Financial Officer Judith Kehoe. “While we are in the very early stages of a long process, it is important to recall a basic theme from last year: After pursuing all possible cost savings, every dollar not derived from state aid can only be made up for in one of two ways — reducing programs and services or through local property taxes.”

With state aid flat in the current year, the Board of Education made about $2 million in budget reductions and savings in the 2009-10 spending plan.

According to Dr. Tebbano, these items represented just about all the reductions, savings and efficiencies the district could make without jeopardizing the core of its academic program, services and operations. Therefore, he said, if more reductions are necessary this year, the district will be forced to consider deeper cuts, which were discussed as part of last year’s budget process but not enacted.

This level of potential cuts includes faculty positions at all academic levels, all field trips, additional reductions to athletic programs, support staff positions and closing a pool, among other items.

“At a certain point, the cuts that need to be considered include those features of the district which we are most proud of and that provide students the most benefit,” Dr. Tebbano said, citing class size as one example. “This makes the conversations at the budget forums essential to getting a sense of the community’s priorities and values as we head into the budget process.”

The Board of Education's formal budget process will begin on February 24 and continue through March.