Springs School Board Must Slash $1 Million
The Springs School Board will have to cut more than $1 million from a preliminary 2015-16 spending plan unveiled on Feb. 9 in order to keep next year’s budget under the state mandated 1.62-percent cap on tax levy increases.
At the board’s first budget work session last week, school officials reviewed a $28.1 million budget, an increase of nearly $1.5 million, or 5.5 percent, from this year’s $26.6 million spending plan. Of that, just over $25.5 million would be raised through property taxes. If the district is to avoid piercing the cap, its maximum allowable tax levy is about $24.5 million.
“In a tax cap environment, under the proposed budget we have, it’s a $2.16 million revenue shortfall,” said Elizabeth Mendelman, the board president, who explained that the proposed budget assumes the transfer of $1.07 million from the district’s fund balance to reduce the tax levy and meet various state requirements for the second year in a row.
Looking ahead to next year, increased enrollment will continue to be an issue, whether at Springs School itself or of Springs students at East Hampton High School or the Child Development Center of the Hamptons charter school.
High school tuition payments for Springs students are predicted to increase by $1 million; 274 students are now enrolled, 292 are projected for next year. Meanwhile, tuition to C.D.C.H. is expected to cost an additional $270,000. Further, health insurance costs are expected to rise by nearly $100,000. Technology spending is to increase by about $20,000.
Ms. Mendelman also emphasized that “maintaining a well-rounded K-through-eight program,” would continue to be a priority, in addition to keeping most class sizes capped at 25 students or fewer.
Among the board’s stated goals, it hopes to maintain a strong fund balance while also keeping it to 4 percent of the anticipated budget.
Last fall, state auditors concluded that Springs had accumulated an unrestricted fund balance nearly four times the allowable amount. For instance, by the 2012-13 school year, the unrestricted fund balance, or rainy day fund, had ballooned to $3.8 million — or nearly 15 percent of the $25 million budget. State law requires that such funds be no more than 4 percent of the anticipated budget.
For the coming year, the board is projecting an unassigned fund balance of $1.7 million — or a decrease of more than $760,000.
In other news, the board approved an extension for Christopher Sarlo, the interim principal, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, while Eric Casale, the principal, is on an extended medical leave.
Also, John Grant’s open board seat expires at the end of the school year. Those interested in running for the seat have been asked to contact Fran Silipo, the district clerk. The annual budget vote and board election will take place on May 19.
Project Most, a local nonprofit, announced that 249 students (the most in its history) are currently enrolled in Springs’ after-school program. The Greater East Hampton Education Foundation, a local nonprofit, also announced three grant winners from Springs School: Melissa Knight, Sue Ellen O’Connor, and Colleen McGowan. Together, the three teachers received more than $3,300 in competitive grant money.
The board will next meet on Wednesday at 7 p.m., when budget items related to instructional programs, co-curricular activities, interscholastic athletics, and field trips will be discussed. The third and final budget session is planned for Mar. 9.