Williamstown Elementary Proposes Modest Increase
 Since the Williamstown and Lanesborough began sharing administration, more money has been shifted toward instruction. The administrative spending has decreased by about a third, according to Superintendent of Schools Rose Ellis. |
"Salaries, this is where we see out biggest increase. That gas gone up approximately $47,000 and that's just the regular step increases," said David Donoghue of The Management Solution, the company hired to manage the school's finances, on Wednesday. "It's a pretty level-funded budget."
The town's contribution will be about 2 percent higher this year to cover the increasing budget. The appropriated funds are expected to be $5,317,985 — compared to $5,093,451 last year - and non-appropriated funds will pay $767,678 of the budget — compared to $784,255. The town is contributing $87,000 more and state funds were level funded but additional revenues have declined.
The budget calls for a total spending increase of about $207,000 — mostly accounted for with the increased appropriation from the town and school choice funds. However, the school choice revenue is decreasing.
"We're using school choice to close the budget gap," Superintendent of Schools Rose Ellis said. "This year we have a budget gap of $134,149."
The gap was caused by lower revenue — about a $94,284 decrease — and increases in utilities at about $39,000, along with a $30,000 or so increase in salaries and benefits. The benefits line could have been worse if wasn't for the premium holiday the purchasing group, Berkshire Health Group, negotiated that is expected to save about $60,000.
The school added an additional kindergarten class in 2012 and that enrollment is expected to be remain stable. The school was also hit with the reduction of federal grants of about $30,000.
"We're about 420 students now and we had dropped to about 405," Ellis said.
School officials will present the full budget, which is available below, at a public hearing at the Elementary School on Thursday night.
WES Preliminary Budget Presentation FY13
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