Marcellus Board of Education adopts 2013-14 budget proposal

On April 22, the Marcellus Board of Education adopted a $30,406,987 budget proposal for 2013-14 that increases spending 0.61 percent and carries a 2.9 percent property tax levy increase.

The fiscal plan restores some previously eliminated positions and adds three more; enhances district security; reduces some class sizes; and fully funds modified sports. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 14, and district residents will vote on the proposal May 21.

“We are beginning to reap what we have sown in Marcellus over the past four years, through our prudent financial practices,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Craig J. Tice. “Because we made some difficult choices in using attrition (retirements and resignations) to close the budget gaps in the past, this budget not only preserves the integrity of our academic program, but enhances it, as well.” 

Residents on May 21 also will elect three members to the Board of Education and decide on two propositions, one to replace six large school buses and another to install a wireless communication network throughout the district. Residents will consider them as separate ballot propositions, and both are eligible for approximately 75 percent aid reimbursement from the state.

Marcellus initially faced a projected budget shortfall of about $1 million, due to an anticipated $103,427 drop in state aid and $987,906 increase in expenses, including a 37 percent jump in teacher retirement system costs.

But the district was able to close the gap to $602,128, by reducing energy costs and health insurance premiums through rate and contract negotiations, respectively, and eliminating salary and benefit costs through retirements and resignations. In addition, the legislative budget provided the district with $334,000 more in state aid than the governor’s proposed budget.

After months of deliberation, administrators and the Board of Education drafted a plan that:

• cuts one 0.8 full-time equivalent World Languages position at the high school (resulting in the layoff of an employee with least seniority at the middle school);
• eliminates one full-time maintenance position, while restoring two full-time custodians (after eliminating six total positions over the course of the past four years);
• adds, through a combination of position “trades” made possible through resignations and retirements, a 0.6 FTE library media specialist position at Driver Middle School, a 0.6 FTE math teacher position at Marcellus High School and 0.6 FTE Academic Intervention Services math support at DMS;
• reduces class sizes in fifth and sixth grades, by adding a full-time elementary teaching position at DMS and moving a K.C. Heffernan Elementary teacher to DMS, so fifth and sixth grades have six sections each instead of five;
• adds a third School Resource Officer (for KCH), as well as a web-based security system for monitoring visitors; and
• restores funding for five modified sports teams that was previously cut.

The district will pay for its expenses, which once again increased most in the area of employee pensions, in part with a proposed tax levy of $17,365,261, which is an increase of $489,400 or 2.90 percent.

This increase is well below Marcellus Central School District’s property tax levy limit of 3.97 percent, even after you add in the proposed tax levy increases from the bus proposition (0.18 percent) and technology (0.07 percent). 

The local property tax levy is balanced in the budget by nearly $12 million in state aid and the use of $602,128 in fund balance and reserves.

What’s next?

2013-14 Budget Public Hearing   

When: 7 p.m. May 14                                

Where: Marcellus Senior High School              

1 Mustang Hill, Marcellus                          

2013-14 Annual Community Budget Vote

When: Noon to 9 p.m. May 21

Where: Marcellus Senior High School