Preliminary school budget to be reduced

DIXFIELD — A preliminary 2011-12 operating budget for Regional School Unit 10 was unveiled this week, and it shows a 9 percent increase.

Superintendent Tom Ward said the $37.6 million preliminary budget will likely undergo some significant reductions in an attempt to stay within the current year’s figure of $34.2.

“During the past two years we have cut the budget and have avoided layoffs,” he said. “Now there is no stimulus money left that has allowed us to save jobs in the regular budget.”

State aid keeps decreasing, he said. One hope is that federal Title 1 funds will increase this year but that figure is not yet known.

The number of employees who may retire is also not known yet. Ward said many who would be eligible are waiting to learn how the governor’s proposal to increase employee contributions will turn out.

Even if the board can reduce the 2011-12 budget to the current spending level, most residents in the 12 member towns will likely see a property tax increase because state data on property valuation lags two years behind a school budget.

Ward said the property values that have decreased won’t show up for another year or two. He believes this year’s school budget will likely be the worst, then some taxpayer relief should begin in 2012-13.

To try to reduce the preliminary budget, a number of steps are being taken:

* The position of Mountain Valley High School Athletic Director John Bernard, who is retiring at the end of this school year, will be eliminated. Instead, a teacher will be asked to serve as athletic director as well as teach a couple of classes.

* Although no educational programs are scheduled to be eliminated, Ward said some programs will be reduced.

* As many positions as possible resulting from retirements will not be filled.

* Staff are directed to request the least needed in textbooks and classroom supplies.

* A moratorium will be called on conferences, workshops and travel unless they are funded by grants.

* Some positions will be eliminated. Those won’t be known until next month.

Next year, the board will look at all buildings in the region with an eye toward possible closures.

“The bottom line is we’ve got to cut a lot of money from this budget,” Ward said.

A regular board meeting will be held Monday, April 11. Then, at the April 25 meeting, all cuts from the preliminary budget will be reviewed, as well as the impact of such cuts.

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