Oceanside to buy fewer textbooks in budget

An increase in the use of online apps and computer software means that the Oceanside school district will buy fewer textbooks in the next school year.

At the March 15 meeting of the Oceanside Board of Education, the school district went over spending on supplies and curriculum for the 16-17 budget, as well as other items.

Next year, Oceanside will spend $371,472 on textbooks for all grades — a $143,471 decrease from the current year. This includes replacing books, supplemental materials for existing programs, and agendas for elementary and high school students.

"There’s been a decrease in the number of textbooks adoptions and an increase in the number of apps we are using — and digital resources and online resources,” said Chris Van Cott, the assistant superintendent for business. He said the district did not need to spend more money these online resources, which include computer software, apps and BOCES videoconferences.

The district is also spending $638,515 less on retirement funds due to an incentive that was put into effect last year for retiring employees. “As you recall we operated a very successful retirement incentive last school year that saved a significant amount of money and helped us balance this school year’s budget,” said Van Cott. “And that retirement incentive had one time payments associated with it that were budgeted for in 15-16 that do not have to be budgeted again in 16-17.”

The incentive paid 11 former employees a one-time payment of $35,000 for health insurance.

The tax levy for next year is $117.5 million, an increase of about $500,000 from the current year’s $116.65 million.

Since 2012, the state tax cap has limited municipal tax increases to approximately 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. This year, the rate of inflation is .12 percent, the lowest since the law took effect. Districts can exceed the cap, but those that do need a supermajority of at least 60 percent of voters to approve their spending plans. Oceanside does not plan to exceed the cap, even though this is the lowest increase since the law went into effect.

The district has not yet revealed that budget, or the amount by which taxes would increase for the average homeowner.

The section of the spending plan that was discussed last week, which covered curriculum, instruction and student services, can be viewed at http://bit.ly/1pOqCVW.

The next meeting, which is scheduled for March 29, at 7:30 p.m., at School No. 6, will focus on staffing, revenue and the tax levy limit.

Residents will vote on the budget on May 17.