4 Blonder Boulevard • Ledyard, Connecticut 06339 • (860) 464-9255 • Fax: (860) 464-8589
Budget Letter from BOE Chair |
February 15, 2008 Mayor Fred B. Allyn, Jr. Dear Mayor Allyn, I am pleased to submit the attached budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 which was approved by the Board of Education at its meeting on February 6, 2008; the budget is a reflection of many months of work by the school district’s staff and the Board’s Finance Committee. The proposed budget of $28,999,990 represents a 5.5% increase over this year’s budget and consists of three main parts: 1) a core budget to maintain current programs; 2) priority improvements to address identified deficiencies in the current program; 3) capital needs regarding facility maintenance and improvements. A brief review of the proposed core budget indicates that approximately 77% of the entire budget is allocated to salaries and benefits for district personnel. During the 2008-2009 school year, the proposed salaries and benefits account will increase 3.8% due primarily to contractual agreements. The salary account includes the reduction of one Central Office administrator, four elementary teachers due to changes in student population, and projected savings from two teacher retirements. Instructional accounts will rise a modest 3.4%; however, operational accounts, which include the costs for energy, will increase by 12.5%. The entire proposed 2008-2009 core budget will increase by 4.9%. In addition to the core budget, the Board of Education identified a small number of priority improvements recommended by the Administration to significantly improve the quality of our schools. Those improvements include the addition of a ninth-grade social studies teacher at the high school, which will enable all freshmen to take a world history class designed to better prepare them for the CAPT exam and future state requirements. The funds will also support a middle school remedial math tutor, paraprofessionals to coordinate a behavioral management program at two elementary schools, and a part-time computer technician. Priority Improvement Funds have also been proposed for the purpose of multi-level reading books at the elementary levels and materials for the K-12 curriculum revision currently being conducted throughout the district. The cost of these priority improvements total $166,000 or 0.6% of the budget. At its meeting on February 6, the Board was notified that the district was able to pre-purchase next year’s heating oil and bus fuel at a rate significantly below current costs. As a result, the Board was able to realize a $150,000 savings in the fuel oil account. The Board voted to reduce the budget by $20,000 and reallocate $130,000 to the repair and maintenance account for the The Board has also proposed two items for the 2008-2009 Capital Improvement Plan. The first item is a request for $300,000 to implement our Asbestos Management Plan. The town will be eligible for 67% state reimbursement on any funds spent for asbestos removal; therefore, the town share of this $300,000 investment will be $100,000. The 2008-2009 request is a component of a five-year plan to remove asbestos from our schools. The second capital proposal is to complete the Ledyard High School roof replacement; the estimate to complete the roof is $950,000. Since the town is eligible for 64% state reimbursement, the town share for this project is $342,000. The Board looks forward to a thorough review of its proposed budget by the Town Council in the coming months. The Board’s unanimous support for this budget is a reflection of each member’s belief that the spending plan is a successful balance between meeting educational needs while considering the community’s ability to pay. Sincerely, Sharon Hightower, Chair SH:mh Cc: Board of Education
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