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Mount Greylock Approves $9.9M Level-Funded BudgetBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
11:23PM / Tuesday, March 24, 2009
 Above, James Kolesar asks a question. David Archibald, left, and Superintendent William Travis check figures. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mount Greylock Regional School district held the line on the coming year's budget, posting a reduction of barely a quarter percent from this year in its $9.9 million budget for fiscal 2010.
The virtual level funding was reached without the loss of any personnel, even after the state cut $250,000 in education aid and more than a third of its transportation funding. It did, however, require cuts throughout the district, especially in athletics ($12,000) and technology($18,000).
Lanesborough will see its assessment rise $134,208, or 6.22 percent, to $2,292,020 as its enrollment rises by 13 students next year. Williamstown's will drop $86,271,or not quite 2 percent, to $4,413,108.
The total budget approved by the School Committee on Tuesday night is $9,906,744, down $26,166 from this year or .26 percent. School choice and excess and deficiency funds of $300,000 will be used to offset the cuts and balance the budget.
School officials are hoping Williamstown takes their and the administration's effort to heart by offering a one-time contribution to the school district at town meeting.
"The rational is that Williamstown had in its initial budget projection said that they could raise the budgets of all town customers by 1.6 percent, and we're coming in at minus-1.72 percent," said committee member David Langston. "That difference could potentially be a warrant article."
The Finance Committee is expected to continue discussion on the matter at Thursday's meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Langston said several numbers were tossed out but nothing firm had been decided one way or the other. The town is believed to have voted an excess contribution in the past, he said.
School Committee Chairman David E. Archibald lead the presentation of the 2010 budget Tuesday night at Mount Greylock Regional High School
"We're in the midst of a bad economy a bad economic downturn," he said, complimenting the work of district's administration in keeping a tight control on spending. "We're in good shape. The question is how we'll do it next year."
Revenue reductions include $95,578 in charter school reimbursements (temporary funding phased out over several years) and $150,720 in state regional transportation funding. Chapter 70 education aid is expected to be level-funded, according to Gov. Deval Patrick's budget proposal. The district will see a $110,000 increase in tuition, or $20 percent.
There is no budget for professional development; building and grounds is being cut by $52,000; supplies from textbooks to lab equipment will be limited; labs for elective science will be eliminated along with two sections team-taught math; user fees will continue for students in athletics, music and after-school activities. Wages, with the exception of contracted step raises, will be frozen.
Superintendent William Travis said anticipated stimulus funds might be used for professional training or equipment, but the guidelines for the use of that funding won't be elaborated on by the state until later this spring.
School officials said newer programs, such as Pathways and the four-year math requirement, will continue.
Archibald said the School Committee had great faith in the staff to continue building the excess and deficiency fund, noting how they had done so well last year, the funds 5 percent limit was exceeded and thousands had to returned to the towns.
Committee member Heather Williams said she hoped the towns would remember that windfall when voting on the budgets - or the possible contribution in Williamstown.
 The Lanesborough and Williamstown finance committees had reviewed the budget, said committee member Ron Tinkham. It had been especially difficult for Lanesborough, with a 6 percent increase.
"We were able to gather their support with the contengincy that their state reimbursements remain what they have projected," said Tinkham. "We feel we have the support in Lanesborough of the Finance Committee and the Selectmen and in Williamstown the support of the Finance Committee so at town meeting we have a united front."
The school will be heavily dependent on parents, booster clubs and the SEE Fund for field trips, sports, dramatic productions and other activities because the district has limited ability to absorb the cost of overruns or special events, such trophy jackets for winning teams
"We as parents can help," said committee member Robert Ericson. "We're taking a pretty hard hit this year." |
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