Valley Vocational school budget is proposed
BLACKSTONE – Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District Superintendent- Director Michael F. Fitzpatrick appeared before the Blackstone Finance Committee this week to review the district’s proposed $22.7 million fiscal year 2018 budget, which includes the town’s proposed budget contribution of $720,423.
The $22,725,302 spending plan, which was approved by the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District Committee on March 9, represents a 3.5 percent increase over last year’s $21,956,739 budget
The budget will be voted on this spring at town meetings in the district’s 13 member towns, including Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Northbridge, Sutton and Upton.
Valley Tech school officials say they are optimistic the proposed budget will receive unanimous approval by the 13 member towns this spring.
Bellingham’s total contribution is $1,017,089, a decrease of $40,097 over last year’s $1,057,186 contribution; Millville’s contribution is $342,476, a $59 increase over last year’s assessment of $342,317; and Uxbridge’s total contribution is $1,559,439, a decrease of $106,490 over last year’s $1,665,929 assessment.
Fitzpatrick’s stop in Blackstone is part of a tour of member towns the superintendent is visiting to review the budget prior to the town meetings.
Blackstone’s contribution for fiscal year 2018 totals $720,423, which includes a minimal contribution of $553,865; a debt assessment of $27,445; and other costs.
There are 76 Blackstone students enrolled in the school this year, a decrease of eight students over last year.
The town’s contribution of $720,423 is $79,107 less than last year’s contribution and represents a decrease of $81 per each of the 76 Blackstone students enrolled at the school.
“The budget was able to be built with a number of efficiencies that allowed us to maintain the request that is now before all 13 towns,” Fitzpatrick told FinCom members Monday.
“The budget is aligned and prioritized to the district’s goals and improvement plans,” said Kurtis Johnson, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations.
The extensive budget creation process allows the district to present the proposed budget as the sole funding request that Valley Tech will make of is member communities for Fiscal Year 2018. With the exception of special debt or an occasional capital improvement initiative, Valley Tech includes in its single budget request: workers’ compensation, health and other insurance, unemployment, snow removal, federal/state revenue shortfalls, central office, bookkeeping, treasurer, legal, audit, and other expenses. Special Education and Student Assessment costs are also included within the annual budget.
Valley Tech’s budget was shielded from the impact of rising costs by the acquisition of more than $1.2 million in federal, state, and private grants. Blackstone Valley Tech’s award of an almost $500,000 Massachusetts Workforce Skills Capital Grant allowed the District to remove the vast majority of capital equipment purchases from the district’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget.
“The district relies heavily on solicitation of grants through the state and private companies which advance the educational opportunities available to our students,” said Johnson.
The system’s ability to implement multiple cost efficiencies such as on campus enhancements and maintenance by its technical students and staff has also contributed significantly, he said.