Draft Minutes
Holderness Budget Committee Meeting
1/5/2012
Present: members Laverack, Stewart, Elgin, Van Sickle, Beeson; auxiliary members Maloney, Brickley; public participant Joe Casey.
Mr. Stewart presented draft #3 of the HCS budget. After correcting for a double-counted expense of $45k in federal funds included in regular education as well “below-the-line,” the expense portion of the school’s operating budget is up 2.2% year-on-year. This, combined with revenue changes, would have a $.21/thousand impact on the 2013 tax rate.
To arrive at this level, the school board made several rounds of cuts to the school’s original proposal, including reduction of ½ FTE from the math program. There is a chance (not great) additional economies could develop prior to town/school meeting in the form of retirements or shifts from full to part-time. No significant diseconomies are predicted at this point.
Mr. Stewart points out that with this ½ FTE reduction, the school’s entire enhancements above “absolute bare-bones, state-mandated staffing” consists of 1.5 FTE’s.
The capital reserve is funded at the same, increased level we moved to three years ago. A capital outlays budget will be reviewed at our next meeting.
The budget committee expressed general satisfaction with the school budget, pending further review, and thanked the school board for its diligence.
Mr. Brickley reports that the PRHS budget is currently planned to deliver a $.10/thousand reduction in the Holderness tax rate for 2013.
The next budget meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday 1/20, 4:30 pm.
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