A matter of public opinion

Facing school budget shortfall next year, Uxbridge turns to its residents for input

UXBRIDGE — School officials here are taking the unusual step of surveying town residents for their opinions on how to resolve an approximately $1 million shortfall in the school budget next year.

At a budget forum on Jan. 20, the School Committee agreed to ask the public to complete a one-question online survey on the town’s website that will help elected officials gauge the wishes of the community regarding the school budget.

School Superintendent Kevin M. Carney first warned of the $1.8 million deficit early last month, saying options to close that gap include closing the McCloskey Middle School and reduce building staff, which would save the district $1.19 million; eliminating athletics and extracurricular activities; and reducing bus transportation,.

The School Committee’s recommended budget increase still leaves a $1.3 million gap between what Carney identified as a needs-based budget ($20,689,043) and the town manager’s preliminary recommended budget of $19.1 million, a $233,000 increase over the current year.

The School Committee can either continue to advocate for a needs-based budget; make up $1.8 million in cuts as part of the town manager's initial budget; ask town meeting for more money; or entertain a Proposition 2½ override for fiscal 2017.

But the committee wants stakeholder feedback.

The online survey question is simple: should the School Department accept a deficit and make reductions or should the School Committee seek additional resources to support the school department’s budget needs?

Respondents — 579 people had answered the survey as of Wednesday — are asked to choose one of the following six options. Included here are the

‘I am strongly encouraging (Uxbridge residents) to engage in this public forum and to attend upcoming School Committee meetings.’ —School Superintendent Kevin M. Carney

responses as of yesterday based on the highest percentage:

Accept the deficit. First — reduce instructional and support staff from the budget. Second — reduce transportation services and athletics/ music/ art/ activities from the budget (allowing for increase of fees to pay for sustained programs and services). A total of 36.96 percent, or 214 respondents, chose this option.

Ask the town to support a Proposition 2½ tax override to support the School Department’s budget in full. A total of 26.77 percent, or 155 respondents, chose this option.

Accept the deficit. First — reduce transportation services and athletics/ music/ art/ activities from the budget (allowing for increase of fees to pay for

sustained programs and services). Second — reduce instructional and support staff from the budget. A total of 11.57 percent, or 67 respondents, chose this option.

Ask the town for a stabilization reserve transfer (currently over $3.5 million) to close the deficit in full for 2016-2017, thus deferring the cuts until 2017-2018. A total of 9.15 percent, or 53 respondents, chose this option.

Ask the town to support a Proposition 2½ tax override, but make reductions to programs and services to lower the tax increase request. A total of 8.12 percent, or 47 respondents, chose this option.

Ask the town for a stabilization reserve transfer to partially close the deficit for 2016-2017, thus deferring the cuts until 2017-2018. A total of 7.43 percent, or 43 respondents, chose this option.

The survey will remain online for several more

weeks. For those without Internet access, hard copy surveys are available in the schools' main offices.

The televised forum held on Jan. 20 intended to provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions about the budget and offer recommendations to a panel of School Committee members and administrators.

A second budget hearing will be held in April.

Carney says public input is greatly needed in light of the difficult budget issues

facing the community.

“Just as I work at the will of the School Committee, elected officials enthusiastically work at the will of our stakeholders so I am strongly encouraging them to engage in this public forum and to attend upcoming School Committee meetings,” said Carney, adding budget updates will continue throughout the budget development process for the 20162017 school year.