Southwick Tolland Granville Regional School District Business Manager Steve Presnal gives a budget presentation during a school committee meeting last night. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District (STGRSD) School Committee held a public hearing on the proposed $21.5 million budget last night.
Superintendent John Barry said the fiscal year 2014 budget was based on the assumption of level service. That includes maintaining the current class sizes, current educational programs, commitment to special education students, participation in the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, and current professional and support staff. It does not include any new positions or new programs.
Barry said the proposed budget includes assumptions of cuts in federal grants, including a special education grant, and Title I funds.
“We don’t anticipate layoffs. However, should federal grants be cut significantly, we could see layoffs,” said Barry. “We would give out pink slips.”
Business Manager Steve Presnal said revenue assumptions rely on Gov. Deval Patrick’s “House 1” budget. He said the discretionary assessments for STGRSD member towns are virtually eliminated, and there is an increase in Chapter 70 funding.
“Chapter 70 is increasing by just under $44,000, which is just under .5 percent over FY13,” he said.
On the expense side, Presnal said the budget maintains current program and staff.
There is a significant increase in the general administration budget line items, however, due mainly to the transferring of the Internet Technology Department to general administration. Also under general administration is the Hampden County Retirement System assessment and vocational and school choice tuition.
Presnal said expense highlights also include the Other Post Employee Benefits funding, a state mandate the committee agreed to begin funding this year.
Enrollment was also discussed during the hearing.
“We’ve been declining but we did get a bump in 2013 as a result of Granville joining the district,” said Presnal.
A big part of the budget conversation was the target share gap for each district town.
“This was the year the state decided to accelerate the target share gap,” said Barry.
Barry explained that the state has a formula for how much communities should pay for education. The state wants communities to begin closing the gap between what the state says they should pay and what they do pay.
“Southwick has a 5.6 percent gap, wile Tolland has a significant gap of about 24 percent, and Granville has a 3.7 percent gap,” said Barry. “If you are over 2.5 percent, you get an additional 2.5 percent towards the contribution, which is why there’s no discretionary spending.”
The proposed general administration budget is $7.4 million, with the Woodland Elementary School budget coming in at $2.7 million, Granville Village School at $1.2 million, Powder Mill Middle School at $3.1 million, and the high school at $4.1 million.
