Update: 'No Bloodletting This Year' in School Budget

A number of additions and clarifications have been made to this article, noted as updates to the text.

What a difference a year makes.

The at its meeting Tuesday night at introduced a preliminary 2012-13 budget that stays within the 2 percent tax levy cap mandated by the state, and with a fully-funded spending plan.

“There will be no bloodletting this year,” said schools business administrator Gary Lane, before the board’s unanimous approval.

In his presentation to a small group of attendees, Lane said that at its Budget Forum in December, the BOE estimated its budgetary gap for 2012-13 to be approximately $340,000. It has been comletely closed by the following:

—Carry-forward of $120,000 from state aid received earlier this year;

—Overall state aid that increased for 2012-13 by $241,000;

—Update: Controlled spending, the movement into the state health benefits plan and settled contracts with our major unions, which include salary increases more in line with our budget growth.

“Our number one goal with this budget was to maintain all academic, athletic and co-curricular opportunities for students," Lane said.

Also working to the district’s advantage, Lane noted, are increased revenue both present and potential, through the district’s new kindergarten wraparound program at all three elementary schools, and the planned sale with the borough of the Green Village Road School property within the next year.

There are no planned cuts in budget manager operating accounts, Lane said, and no request for a waiver or additional funds under the tax levy cap to cover a 2.49 percent increase in spending.

Update: The tax levy cap of 2% applies to the operating budget. Last year that portion of the school district tax was $32,527,319, and it is increasing by 2% to $33,177,865. Additionally, the Madison taxpayer portion of our Debt Service is decreasing slightly from $2,524,587 to $2,513,816. Overall, the total Madison taxpayer increase is $639,775, or 1.79%, and the tax rate, which is the true increase seen by the taxpayer, is $.032 per $100 or 1.9% State revenue is increasing by $482,621 or 29.6%, from $1,147,098 to $1,629,719.

Board Vice President Pat Rowe praised the brief presentation of the budget, which will be submitted for final state approval in April. “When expenses match revenues, it’s easy.”

Rowe said that the district is still looking at outsourcing custodial services, and may add one more teacher for the high school.

Board President Lisa Ellis reminded the meeting that even as the stars line up for the new budget, not to forget what went on in the past.

“Over the last three years our kids have lost $3 million in state aid," she said. "We’re in a position that we are thankful for less than we’re owed, and that sets a bad precedent.”