Budget process keeps education in focus
HOWARD S. SMITH Williamsville School Superintendent
Every year we face the challenge of developing a budget that meets the educational needs of our students while remaining fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. Our goal is to continue to enhance educational opportunities for our students while at the same time providing an affordable budget for the taxpayers of our district.

The 2007-08 preliminary budget continues all instructional and support programs, maintains current class size, and provides for certain program enhancements that would have a direct and positive impact on students. The total increase in the recommended spending plan is estimated to be 4.59 percent over the current year.

The instructional enhancements contained in the budget plan include the addition of keyboarding instruction in fifth grade, the addition of 1.5 school counselor positions to provide equitable counseling services at Mill Middle and North High schools, a full-time school psychologist position to address increased needs in the special education area, and the addition of a modified football coach to provide one team for each of the four middle schools in response to student interest.

The Board of Education and I are very cognizant of the impact school taxes have on our residents. Unfortunately, many of the costs associated with a school budget are fixed. The district has little control over items such as health insurance costs, retirement expenses, diesel fuel prices, and costs associated with government mandates. These items alone account for nearly 4 percent of the total projected spending increase for next year.

As in the past, the revenue picture provides ongoing challenges for us. Gov. Spitzer's proposal for state aid includes about a 3 percent increase for Williamsville, keeping the level of state support for our school district budget at less than 20 percent of total revenues. Another challenge for next year is the Town of Amherst's decision to abandon its 100 percent assessment program, which potentially could shift more of the school tax levy to Amherst residents. Although the school tax rate will not be finalized until August, we are estimating that the tax rate increase will be 2.39 percent, well below the current consumer price index of 3.2 percent.

In addition to the preliminary budget, three facility-related propositions will be on the May ballot. The school district is seeking community support to renovate our Transportation Center located on Mill Street. This project will include a major redesign of the Mill Middle School entry/exit loop to improve student safety and traffic flow on the Mill campus. State aid will pay for 65 percent of the total project, which is expected to cost taxpayers about one cent per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The other two propositions, the purchase and renovation of a Support Services Facility, and the establishment of a Building Capital Reserve, will have no tax impact. If approved by voters, they will increase the district's capital assets while ending all rental agreements for operations and maintenance, food services, and central storage operations.

The Board of Education will hold a public work session on the recommended spending plan on Tuesday, March 27. Please call the District Office at 626-8000 if you have questions or would like to schedule a presentation for your group.