School officials working to trim 2018-19 budget

PHOENICIA, N.Y. » Onteora school district trustees are reviewing a draft $56.21 million 2018-19 budget that would increase spending by $1.92 million, or 3.53 percent.

At a Board of Education meeting Tuesday, officials said they would either have to reduce spending or find more revenue for the budget to meet the 3.63 percent state tax levy limit.

Above that limit, voters would have to approve the spending plan by a supermajority of 60 percent of ballots cast.

“We still have a projected gap of $540,000,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business Monica LeClair.

“The biggest piece is the health insurance,” she said. “There are still a lot of unknowns.”

LeClair noted the district will face an increase in teacher retirement system costs for the first time in three years, but did not have an anticipated amount for the higher cost.

Officials said they expect to develop a budget for voter approval at or under the state tax levy limit, which would put the levy at $42.84 million for a 3.63 percent increase of $1.5 million.

“This is one step past the rollover budget,” LeClair said. “This is taking all of the salaries that we know and then retirements . ... There’s a potential for more retirees, they don’t need to let us know until March 1.”

The state Comptroller’s Office annually sets the cost of retirement funding.

An itemized budget was not immediately available. However, appropriations categories include:

• General support at $5.04 million, for a 3.25 percent increase of $158,504 over the current budget.

• Instruction at $27.79 million, for a 2.01 percent increase of $546,907.

• Transportation at $4.22 million, for a 0.18 percent decrease of $7,579.

• Employee benefits at $17.24 million, for a 7.89 percent increase at $1.27 million.

• Debt service at $692,119, for a 0.23 percent increase at $1,596.

Board members have an April 8 deadline to set an amount for spending that would be presented to residents during the May 15 school budget vote.