By Dan Israeli
While Frank Ruggiero, assistant superintendent for business, predicted last week that the district would keep this year's spending increase under the statewide average of 6 percent, at Tuesday night's budget hearing he did not reveal the final figures. "We are continuing to refine the numbers," Ruggiero said.
Superintendent Robert Greenberg is expected to present his proposed 2007-08 budget next Wednesday at the board's next work session. Last Tuesday, Ruggiero detailed instructional expenditures for the upcoming year.
The presentation followed that night's work session on central services, the first of five functional groups listed under State Office of Budget and Management (SBM) code. Instructional expenditures were the second group, and the remaining three are transportation, community services and undistributed funds. Ruggiero is incorporating SBM code into the budget process for the first time.
Instructional expenditures, which account for a majority of the total budget, are expected to increase in several areas next year, from curriculum development to teaching services. However, there will be some reductions as well, in equipment costs and BOCES services. Ruggiero was confident that the district would be able to save a substantial amount of money in those areas.
The board also adopted a resolution to create a Capital Reserve Fund, which was discussed at last week's work session. The fund will act as a savings account for capital projects, collecting money from the general budget's fund balance each year.
The reserve fund proposition will be put on the May 15 ballot, which is required to establish the fund and allow its funds to be spent. Currently the fund has a 10-year term during which the total amount of money in it cannot exceed $25 million. The term and amount of the fund can be renegotiated after the first 10 years.
