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Overcast District reveals capital, administrative budgets
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While both components showed overall increases, district officials revealed a plan to save taxpayers over a half-million dollars for capital projects slated for completion over the next school year.
District officials proposed a 5-percent increase in the total administrative budget, which includes administrative salaries, benefits, curriculum development, insurance, and administrative charges for Nassau BOCES. The district now employees a near full-time district clerk, citing a restructuring of the position; has committed to a full year of Connect-Ed, a communications program allowing the district to contact the community very quickly; and now publishes the Baldwin BEAT – the district newsletter – through Nassau BOCES. A 13-percent increase was seen in unallocated insurance, however district officials said that is normal considering the numerous amount of capital projects done in recent years. Simply put, since many district facilities and technologies have been upgraded, they in turn cost more to insure.
Administrative salaries reflected a 15-percent jump, however district officials explained that they list administrators that teach less than 50 percent of the time under the administration portion of the budget. Additionally, a pupil services coordinator — a new position — was hired at Baldwin Middle School.
District officials were happy to announce that they've discovered a way to fund a series of upcoming capital projects without asking Baldwin taxpayers for a dime. In 1984, the district sold the property which once was home to the old junior high school. The district has carried the funds in capital reserve since then, and after 25 years of gaining interest, the money has grown to $561,740.
Frank Fiumano, assistant superintendent for business and administrative services, said that the district plans to move those funds, as well as $1.7 million in debt-service funds, to the capital portion of the budget. The $1.7 million was funding for capital projects promised to the district last May through state-funded EXCEL. District officials had planned to use the funding — which they must borrow on their own before being reimbursed by the state — for repairs and upgrades of district facilities, which include a new fire alarm system at the high school. The $561,740 is expected to cover the costs of masonry repairs and installation of security cameras at Plaza and Steele, and the renovation of two home economics rooms and replacement of auditorium lighting at the middle school.
The transfer of the $561,740 from capital reserve to capital projects requires voter approval, and residents will have the opportunity to vote on a separate proposition when they vote on the school and library budgets in May.
"All these projects need to be done," said Fiumano, "and what better place to get the money from than that which won't cost taxpayers money. It's property-tax neutral."
A regular meeting of the Board of Education was scheduled for March 11 at Meadow School. District officials are set to present the program components of the budget at a March 18 budget work session to be held at 8 p.m. at the District office.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
District officials proposed a 5-percent increase in the total administrative budget, which includes administrative salaries, benefits, curriculum development, insurance, and administrative charges for Nassau BOCES. The district now employees a near full-time district clerk, citing a restructuring of the position; has committed to a full year of Connect-Ed, a communications program allowing the district to contact the community very quickly; and now publishes the Baldwin BEAT – the district newsletter – through Nassau BOCES. A 13-percent increase was seen in unallocated insurance, however district officials said that is normal considering the numerous amount of capital projects done in recent years. Simply put, since many district facilities and technologies have been upgraded, they in turn cost more to insure.
Administrative salaries reflected a 15-percent jump, however district officials explained that they list administrators that teach less than 50 percent of the time under the administration portion of the budget. Additionally, a pupil services coordinator — a new position — was hired at Baldwin Middle School.
District officials were happy to announce that they've discovered a way to fund a series of upcoming capital projects without asking Baldwin taxpayers for a dime. In 1984, the district sold the property which once was home to the old junior high school. The district has carried the funds in capital reserve since then, and after 25 years of gaining interest, the money has grown to $561,740.
Frank Fiumano, assistant superintendent for business and administrative services, said that the district plans to move those funds, as well as $1.7 million in debt-service funds, to the capital portion of the budget. The $1.7 million was funding for capital projects promised to the district last May through state-funded EXCEL. District officials had planned to use the funding — which they must borrow on their own before being reimbursed by the state — for repairs and upgrades of district facilities, which include a new fire alarm system at the high school. The $561,740 is expected to cover the costs of masonry repairs and installation of security cameras at Plaza and Steele, and the renovation of two home economics rooms and replacement of auditorium lighting at the middle school.
"All these projects need to be done," said Fiumano, "and what better place to get the money from than that which won't cost taxpayers money. It's property-tax neutral."
A regular meeting of the Board of Education was scheduled for March 11 at Meadow School. District officials are set to present the program components of the budget at a March 18 budget work session to be held at 8 p.m. at the District office.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
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