Fredonia updates projected school budget
Fredonia Board of Education President Brian Aldrich commended Business Administrator John Forbes for his work on the proposed budget for the 2023-24 year.
Fredonia Business Administrator John Forbes, left, offered an update on the proposed 2023-24 school budget at a recent Board of Education meeting
Fredonia Board of Education President Brian Aldrich commended Business Administrator John Forbes for his work on the proposed budget for the 2023-24 year.
Fredonia Business Administrator John Forbes, left, offered an update on the proposed 2023-24 school budget at a recent Board of Education meeting
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The Fredonia Central School District has made the necessary cuts from the preliminary budget to get under the tax cap. Business Administrator John Forbes shared the updated budget with the Board of Education at a recent meeting.
During the initial budget presentation, Forbes said, "The goal for me, always, is to get to the cap. Then from there, it's the board's decision as we move forward beyond that."
Forbes did just that, as more than $500,000 was trimmed from the budget from its initial projections to what was most recently presented. The budget of $34,475,442 includes a 3.51% tax levy.
"I know that 3.5% is a pretty big increase in our tax levy, but I'll tell you, I think you've done a good job of tightening your belt as far as getting rid of any excess here," Board of Education President Brian Aldrich said to Forbes. "When you look at the last four years of 0, 1, 0, 1, and we really weren't that high in the years before that, it's not something that our taxpayers can really complain too much about, especially with inflation the way it's been recently."
The budget is currently $2,152 below the tax cap, with multiple figures reflected as estimates, rather than fixed amounts. Among the figures still unknown include a final Fredonia Administrators Association Contract, a final CSEA Contract, and final figures for State Aid, Assessed Values, and Equalization Rates. Placeholder estimates are reflected in the current budget.
Superintendent Brad Zilliox said, "It's quite a task to really think about what are the variables in play, what will that look like, what will cost be, and how will we use our budget not only to meet the needs of our students, but to maintain and potentially enhance our academic programs and really focus on great opportunities for students across the board?"
Among the "big ticket items" in the proposed budget include an increase in High Cost BOCES special education placements, up $328,734, as well as an increase in occupational education, up $41,465. The BOCES Alternative Education Program cost, which includes the online WAVE program for students provided through BOCES, is up $61,420 this year. There are also increased costs due to multiple out of district special education placements, up $150,000 this year.
An increase in fuel prices and utilities has also impacted the district, as transportation expenses are up $169,753 in the proposed budget. Medical/Prescription Drug premiums are also up 7%.
Also impacting the budget is an increase of the NYS Teacher's Retirement Rate from 9.80% to 10.29%, with the NYS Employee's Retirement System up $73,388. Worker's Compensation premiums are also up $27,253.
To combat some of the increases, Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget would provide Fredonia with a Foundation Aid disbursement increase of $1,823,584 and a total increase of $1,938,644.
"Typically, we're around $300,000 to $350,000, so this is a great year for that to happen because of all our increased costs, this helps offset that," Forbes said.
The proposed Fredonia budget would reflect 46.18% from state aid and 49.18% from the tax levy. In the 2022-23 budget, state aid accounted for 43.79%, while the tax levy accounted for 51.30%.
Instructional costs are budgeted as follows: Wheelock School 23,923; Elementary School $8,925; Middle School $17,890; and High School $37,057.
"In this budget, we currently have no new positions. We do have the resignations of four teachers and their replacements budgeted for," Forbes said.
The updated budget includes $16,626 in custodial costs and $71,068 in maintenance costs. This comes after the district "virtually cut all equipment requests in 2021-22 and 2022-23," according to Forbes.
Among the budgeted figures for equipment requests includes $22,856 for interscholastic athletics, $17,500 for technology/computer hardware, and $17,500 for curriculum replacement. The district office, business office, and school psychologists are each budget for $500 in equipment, while the principal's offices are budgeted for $5,129.
Board of Education member Lisa Powell Fortna noted, "Based on these other external factors with inflation and increased costs, we are forgoing things that we're looking at the district and saying we would like to have."
The budget vote will take place on May 16, after a public hearing two weeks prior on May 2.