Williamsville School District preliminary budget increases 4.7 percent for 2008-09
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Williamsville Central School District residents recently got their first opportunity to view the proposed 2008-09 budget, which totals $152,067,615, a spending increase of 4.69 percent.

(See editorial on page four)

The 2007-08 budget is $145 million.

A budget work session was held on Feb. 12, although few residents were in attendance. A public forum on the budget will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 in the district office boardroom, 105 Casey Road.

According to Superintendent Howard Smith's presentation, the spending increases for next year are attributed to special education costs, employee salaries and benefits, mandated contributions to state retirement systems and increased transportation costs, including a 37 percent increase for diesel fuel.

To support a $152 million budget, the district will collect nearly $101.7 million from the property tax levy - $14.36 million in STAR reimbursement and $87.31 million from property owners. Other revenues are: $32.35 million in state aid; $8.2 million in sales tax; $6.79 million in miscellaneous revenues and $3.05 million in appropriated surplus.

One line of the budget calls for a 178 percent increase - continued support for, and expansion of, the interscholastic athletic program. This includes funding for participation in local, state and regional competitions, budgeted at $177,556.

Upon learning that the NYS Public High School Athletic Association, Section VI, wouldn't be paying for athletes or teams to travel to state competitions, the district looked into paying for it, at an estimated $55,000.

Williamsville, on average, has sent 25 individuals and four teams to state athletic competitions each year. By opting to add that budget line the district opened another door. Smith said the district is looking into paying for scholastic and extracurricular state competitions to be fair and consistent. In the past, groups such as Future Business Leaders of America had to pay for state competitions through fundraising and/or out of pocket.

The $177,556 represents funding for both athletic and scholastic competitions.

Health insurance costs are estimated to rise more than 10 percent, or $1.40 million. That figure includes savings from lower-cost plans and an increase in employee contributions. Another large increase is 30 percent, or $265,620, for occupational education.

Smith and his staff also foresee difficulties with revenues, including challenges at the state level and a reduction from the "promise" made last year.

"The requirement that boards of education must adopt budgets by no later than April 25, combined with the time frame for state budget adoption, results in the need for early 'critical decisions' without 'critical information,'" Smith stated in his report.

Other difficulties include a slowing economy, reduction in interest earnings and the continued impact of the STAR Program, particularly with later payments to school districts.

While the district budget has gone up annually, enrollment is decreasing. In the past seven years, the peak was 10,760 students in 2003-04. The projection for 2008-09 is 10,453 students.

Based on a 92 percent equalization rate and a 4.69 percent increase in spending, the tax rate increase would be 3.31 percent.

Thomas Maturski, assistant superintendent for business and facilities, said the administration was directed by the Board of Education at the Feb. 13 meeting to further reduce spending.

"They indicated they want to see some decreases in the budget," Maturski said, adding that along with the open forum and budget work session, both in March, the district should be closer to figures for a final budget. "We'll have better information in the coming months."

The district already reduced the proposed curriculum and program enhancements from $1.1 million to $461,000. That includes cutting girl's ice hockey.

The preliminary budget kept funding for an additional modified lacrosse coach and a special education classroom at the middle school level.

"It was reduced substantially," Maturski said. For information on the budget process, visit the Web site www.williamsvillek12.org.