5 Preliminary Budget Recommendations

At last night’s meeting, presented his preliminary budget for fiscal 2013.  asked all departments to present a level-funding budget, something Landman said was not going to be easy. “Given the guiding principles we already know that we face a significant challenge,” Landman said.

Here are five key points from his presentation.

1. The budget that Landman presented is not at a level-funding amount. The amount that was presented represents a 3.95 percent increase from fiscal 2012.  Landman said in order to make a level funding budget the schools would need to cut the equivalent of 25 full-time teachers from the budget he presented.

2. To provide level services, Landman said he would have needed a 4.8 percent increase, but through strategic cuts and revenue increases he was able to lower the amount more than $100,000. “To do the exact same things we are doing this year next year, we’re looking at a $1,581,156 increase,” Landman said.

3. The preliminary budget Landman presented included a net gain of 2.6 teachers in the system. It would mean that 12.7 full-time equivalent teachers would get cut while 15.3 new positions would be created.

4.With the proposed budget class size would increase. “We are recommending allowing an upward trend in class sizes, however we are staying at or below the historic maximums,” Landman said.

5. In the proposed budget many fees would increase including: parking, bus fees, athletic fees and an increase to the tuition for full-day kindergarten. “Each one of the fee increases we have proposed stays very much in line with the surrounding communities,” Landman said.

The School Committee has weekly public meetings scheduled throughout the month of January to focus on the budget. Jan. 5 and Jan. 19 will be regular meetings with followed by untelevised working sessions. The committee will also hold a working session on Jan. 12. At the end of the month, on Jan. 26, they will have a public hearing on the preliminary budget for fiscal 2013.