Mineola school administrators presented a revised 2011-2012 budget at last week’s school board meeting that increased spending $1.8 million more than the district’s first plan but kept the increase in tax levy to 2.5 percent.
“We said when we started this whole thing with closing schools, we said we could get five years of 2.5 percent levy and we’re completely on track to do that,” said Mineola Superintendent of Schools Michael Nagler. “And I’d also like to add we haven’t cut any programs.”
The revised budget, which calls for $84 million in school spending, would represent a 4.86 percent increase over this year and would result in a 2.44 percent in the increase in the tax levy.
Mineola Assistant School Superintendent Jack Waters said changes from the original proposal included the transfer of $2.6 million to the capital budget as part of the $2.2 million Hampton School improvement project, and $500,000 to upgrade the Meadow School library. The money for the Hampton Street School would come from reserved; the Meadow School improvements would be paid by the tax levy. Waters also included in the proposal $1.1 million in revenue from the lease of the Cross Street School.
The budget also showed $809,000 in savings from the elimination of teachers that will accompany the closing of the Cross Street School.
The Mineola school district staff total salary budget for 2010-11 is $47.9 million.
“Typically in a rollover budget when we have the same staff year to year we have in increase in salaries from 4 to 5 percent,” said Waters. “This would project a next year total at $49.9 million, however we’re budgeting $47.6 million with a difference of $2.2 million, by closing schools and reducing staff.”
The difference of $2.2 million has been one of the focal points in the savings that has been discussed during the entire re-configuration process, according to Nagler. The 2011-2012 budget reflects 15.2 full time equivalent teacher positions without a loss in program .
“We talked about how closing schools will save us money. Right there that’s certainty the reflection of how we save money,” Waters said.
Should the budget fail, the board will enact a contingency budget, which will require the Hampton and Meadow projects to be cut, along with proposed new equipment. The new equipment includes renovation of the high school art room, musical equipment, fitness equipment, and the science Intel research equipment.
The Hampton Project could still move forward according to Nagler. The $2.2 million would be transferred to the capital reserve fund prior to June 30 and a vote to spend the money will take place sometime in the 2011-12 school year.
“We structured this budget to again not lose any program even if the budget fails,” Nagler said. “The main thing in this budget is obviously the Hampton and Meadow projects, this will be the last opportunity to right size these buildings before some kind of cap goes in.”
Reach reporter Timothy Meyer by e-mail at meyerj.tim@gmail.com.
