Cuts in state funding are narrowing the margins for the local school district, bringing the FY16 budget into focus. Interim Superintendent Sean Dusek touched on some “fiscal realities”…
Dusek: “Maintaining what we do gets expensive. As part of our contracts with teachers and support there’s what’s called “steps” that are built into there, so there is a cost factor that goes up. The other cost driver is healthcare.”
The school district will hold a budget work session today at 3:15pm at the Borough building, mapping out what will happen if the state approves a one-time funding boost, or not…
Dusek: “Our funding is uncertain. Last time I was here we had just been informed that the Governor had removed what the Legislature calls “one-time funding” and that ends up being about $2.2. million for us, which also has an impact on Borough funding through the formula. We’re working with the Legislature on that, but it does not look good that that would come back.”
Dusek said it’s likely the District will need to dip into savings, even after cutting expenditures. The major cost driver is personnel, and Dusek anticipated cutting some positions, mostly through retirements and transfers, rather than dismissals.