Dear Editor,
School budget season is well underway. To date the BOE/Administration of OACSD has held a one-hour budget forum and that was it! At the next Board meeting, March 31, Dr. Russell will present his proposed budget to the board. In an effort to give the board some thoughts to consider, work on or ask about, I sent the following to your board members on March 2.
Board Members: For your information and consideration.
During the development of this years’ budget here are some points to ponder and to be taken under consideration and discussion by our elected community servants.
1. This is the second year in succession that pension costs have dropped considerably.
2. Health care costs are being reduced significantly as a result of changing our +65 retirees to Medicare Plan F.
The actual monthly savings needs to be determined and made public by Mr. Pryor. Perhaps Mr. Pryor could be asked to develop and present these cost savings at the next board meeting. A conservative monthly estimate is in the neighborhood of $100,000 or a $1.2 million annual spending reduction. The budget needs to be adjusted to reflect these savings. Please resist the urge to spend because you can!
3. Thanks to the Board’s wisdom in adopting a reasonable salary range for the “Search Announcement” for Dr. Russell’s replacement, the district could expect to realize a substantial reduction in salary and benefits in the compensation package for the incoming Superintendent.
4. As for the ongoing negotiations with the bargaining units, one should also expect a favorable outcome, which could increase employees contributions toward health care premiums, another cost reduction.
Along with NYS’s projected increases in “Foundation Aid,” the reduction or elimination of the GAP adjustment, the price of fuel declining drastically and “our new highly efficient, economically low cost maintenance built into the new OES building” – it is reasonable to expect a reduction in the overall operating costs for the 2016-17 school year. As it shapes up now, this is the budget season when the Board can comfortably deliver a reduction in the Tax Levy, provide for continued quality in our student programs and reduce the tax burden on your neighbors and the citizens of the Owego Apalachin School District.
It’s your call! It is up to you!
Thank you for serving your community.
Sincerely,
Joe Chartrand,
Founder, Tioga Citizens for Affordable Education & Excellence
