Miller Place BOE Budget Details - Waiting and Hoping

At the March 28 BOE meeting, many were disappointed that no details were provided regarding the 2012-2013 BOE proposed budget. After hearing from Superintendent Hodun and BOE members a few things became clearer:

1)    The BOE budget will NOT pierce the cap. Not surprising because BOE members Unger and Neyland were emphatic that they would not propose such a budget and there was a strong message from the community not to do so.

2)    SOME programs, clubs, activities, and teachers would be restored but not all unless concessions were offered to fund the remaining budget deficit.

3)    "The reason why we’re doing that is because it will allow for time for the Board and the administration to continue discussions with district employees regarding concessions, which are moving in a positive direction." Quote from Supt. Hodun that offers us hope that cooler heads are prevailing. Let us all hope that a great leader will step up and be the hero.

My sense is that the BOE is giving certain leaders the time that they need to convince their members that concessions are needed. It was a wise move to delay details. Better it were done right than done quickly.

The devisive nature of budget communication must stop. I think we are headed in the right direction this year (finally). On Wednesday, Marc Bloom (Boosters Club), Nancy Arnold (Robotics Club), and Mark Larson (Friends of the Arts) stood shoulder to shoulder to let Admin and BOE know that they were united in that it is the district's responsibility to find the money to save the programs and not the responsibility of the various supporters. The message was loud and clear. The BOE should expect NO votes on any proposed budget that does not restore all cuts to student programs, clubs, and sports. It would have been an even stronger message if the PTO stood with them.

So it appears there will be some concessions. How much is the $2 million question. I really hope that Central Office offers up something thus allowing MPTA to follow the lead.

In my two previous budget-related posts, I detailed how and also how . Concessions by Admin would be more symbolic because their budget line is dwarfed by the MPTA budget line. Although a much smaller part of the budget, these are our district leaders and great leaders will lead by example. If the Superintendent’s proposed budget decimates programs and course electives and results in the loss of 22.5 of our hard-working teaching professionals, surely our leaders can shoulder some of that burden. Sadly, the Superintendent’s proposed budget included NO cuts whatsoever in Administrative expenditures. I am hopeful they will change their tune.

MPTA giving up CPI is a no-brainer because the language showed us that 1.5% raises were acceptable to MPTA. And why not? 1.5% raises next year look pretty generous when many other districts accepted freezes. (I have a 0% raise this year and also a 0% raise next year – not counting the steps I will receive.)

It was clear to Mike Unger and many of us (but not to BOE members Magnani and O'Brien) that a 1.5% or higher CPI raise next year was fiscally irresponsible. MPTA can now give up something that they probably never expected to get anyway. Smart MPTA, not so smart BOE. Giving up CPI raises saves the proposed budget about $500,000 – not small change but not enough to save all the jobs. We cannot lose more teachers.

Apparently, the unemployment benefits for releasing 23 teachers would cost the district over $500,000 next year. That means that saving teachers also saves us that expense. Assuming no other new savings,  we need to locate about $1.5 million to save all teachers. If the MPTA chooses to come back to the table with a 0% raise for next year we are almost there. Keep in mind that all teachers not at the top step WILL get their step raises. These raises are 3.5% for steps 1-18 and 2% raises for steps 19-24. Those at top step 25 would not get a raise.

So what does that mean in $$$? Below are the step “raises” for a teacher with Masters degree at various steps:

Step 1:   Current Salary = $54,862, Step Raise = +$1,920 (+3.5%)
Step 10: Current Salary = $76,073, Step Raise = +$2,663 (+3.5%)
Step 20: Current Salary = $98,671, Step Raise = +$1,973 (+2%)
Step 25: Current Salary = $108,756, No step raise

This means that most teachers still get a raise next year even with a 0% contract raise.

So now we wait to find out if MPTA will do the right thing to save their colleagues and the district. Giving back CPI would not impress me because that should never have been agreed to in the first place and MPTA surely knows this. So how far back will MPTA come from the 1.5%? The answer will show us how serious MPTA is about saving their colleagues because it is clear that this BOE and this community are not going to pierce the cap.

And I must emphasize again that Central Office MUST also step to the plate.

Previous BOEs have been too quick to pass increased costs onto the taxpayers because we were all afraid to vote no on proposed budgets. Voting no to a bad budget often feels like voting no for education. The tax cap now forces districts to be smarter with their finances so residents will no longer be guilted into going along.

I think it is clear that we need a budget committee to meet after the vote to create a 3-5 year plan that can be shared with the community. The committee would be comprised of BOE members Mike Unger and Brian Neyland, Dept. Supt. Marianne Higuera, MPTA President Nancy Sanders and several members of the community. The plan would allow us all to avoid the annual agony so eloquently described by resident Chris Frawley in .