District 13 adopts budget

District 13 voters will soon have their say on a proposed $41.3 million budget for next year. The Board of Education unanimously adopted its proposed spending plan on March 23.

The budget would raise spending by less than one percent next year, or about $350,000. Meredith Brosnan, assistant superintendent for business, said the tax levy will increase by 3.34 percent. However, she said, each individual homeowner's taxes will go up only 1.25 percent. The average resident will pay about $39 more in elementary school taxes next year if the budget is approved.

A majority of the increase in spending is related to salaries and energy costs. Brosnan said the district will be able to use a reserve fund to pay some retirement costs, and the district plans to cut back on the purchase of equipment and supplies. "We took out anything that could be put off for future years," she said.

There is some money in the budget for capital projects including a partial roof replacement at the Willow Road School. Additionally, some money will be included to repave the Wheeler Avenue School parking lot. Brosnan said the district will be putting aside money for that project for the next three years, instead of all at once to minimize the burden to taxpayers.

Brosnan said administrators and Board of Education members accomplished what they wanted with this proposed budget — maintaining programs, services and staff while keeping the tax increase low. "From the beginning," she said, "we were mindful of the economy and what homeowners are going through," she said. "We're going to be facing some real challenges over the next couple of years, if not longer."

Board of Education President Joseph DiSibio agreed, and noted that the district is facing state aid cuts next year. "We are keenly aware of the tax burden that already exists in our community and in light of what’s going on in Albany, we knew we had to make every effort to manage our expenses as efficiently as possible," he said. "Many difficult decisions had to be made, but we believe that we have effectively spread the expense reductions across many areas of the districts operations as to not overly impact one area."