Menands School District > Budget & Taxes > 2019-2020 Budget Workshop 1

2019-2020 Budget Workshop 1

On Jan. 7, 2019, the Menands Union Free School District held a Budget Workshop. 

District leaders indicated they plan to budget from the perspective of what is currently known. Though we will be cautiously optimistic about decreases in expenditures or increases in revenue, we will not make assumptions. Our perspective is to “hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

Fund Balance

Over the last six years, the Unassigned Fund Balance has been reduced by 6.9 percent.

2012-2013

  • Adopted Budget: $7,373,940
  • Expenditure Budget: $7,838,649
  • Maximum allowed 4%: $313,546
  • Unassigned: $1,214,488
  • General Fund Balance subject to Real Property Tax Law: $1,214,488
  • Actual Percentage: 15.5 percent

2013-2014

  • Adopted Budget: $7,838,649
  • Expenditure Budget: $8,032,323
  • Maximum allowed 4%: $321,293
  • Unassigned: $946,833
  • General Fund Balance subject to Real Property Tax Law: $946,833
  • Actual Percentage: 11.8 percent

2014-2015

  • Adopted Budget: $8,032,323
  • Expenditure Budget: $8,306,605
  • Maximum allowed 4%: $332,264
  • Unassigned: $792,672
  • General Fund Balance subject to Real Property Tax Law: $792,672
  • Actual Percentage: 9.5 percent

2015-2016

  • Adopted Budget: $8,306,605
  • Expenditure Budget: $8,336,436
  • Maximum allowed 4%: $333,457
  • Unassigned: $839,954
  • General Fund Balance subject to Real Property Tax Law: $839,954
  • Actual Percentage: 10.1 percent

2016-2017

  • Adopted Budget: $8,336,436
  • Expenditure Budget: $8,548,159
  • Maximum allowed 4%: $341,926
  • Unassigned: $754,740
  • General Fund Balance subject to Real Property Tax Law: $754,740
  • Actual Percentage: 8.8 percent

2017-2018

  • Adopted Budget: $8,548,159
  • Expenditure Budget: $8,730,680
  • Maximum allowed 4%: $349,227
  • Unassigned: $754,740
  • General Fund Balance subject to Real Property Tax Law: $754,740
  • Actual Percentage: 8.6 percent

As of June 30, 2018

The beginning fund balance as of July 1, 2017 is $2,038,038. The actual revenues are $7,907,176. and the actual expenditures are $7,746,545. That’s a difference of $160,631. The ending total fund balance is $900,403.

The assigned fund balance is $900,403. The restricted fund balance is $543,526.

  • Workers Comp Reserve: $30,000
  • Unemployment Reserve: $25,000
  • ERS Retirement Reserve: $152,000
  • EMP Benefits Reserve: $51,592
  • Repairs Reserve: $110,970
  • Tax Certiorari: $173,964
  • Unassigned Fund Balance: $754,740

This leaves a $160,631 change in Fund Balance.

Factors Impacting Expenditures

  • The inability to accurately project or forecast fluctuations given the increasingly transient nature of student population.
  • A fluctuation in high cost Special Education Placements with regards to tuition and transportation.
  • Billing associated with McKinney-Vento student tuition.
  • Increased enrollment.
  • Continued need for 2 Teacher Aide positions
  • Special Education reassignment and staffing
  • Continued ENL needs
  • Unanticipated increase in Legal Fees

Parameters for Budget Development

  • Contract negotiations
  • Increasing enrollment
  • Need to be attentive to growing social/emotional and mental health needs of student population
  • High needs and number of Special Education students
  • Special Education costs and staffing
  • English Language Learner Needs/Costs
  • McKinney-Vento students
  • Tuition new and current ($200,000 increase)

What can we expect at the next BOE meeting?

At the next Board of Education meeting, we will have projections, the first draft of the 2019-2020 budget and a tax cap calculation if applicable.

The next budget workshop is Feb. 11, 2019.