During the seventh of a series of meetings on the 2021-2022 proposed budget, the board delved deeper into the information discussed during the April 7, 2021 workshop meeting and expense and revenue update. In addition to the previous presentation, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services Christine Costa provided additional slides on foundation aid and long-range planning.

Ms. Costa explained that foundation aid is an indexed enrollment based aid. Since 2007-08, foundation aid formulas have not been running as prescribed by law. The NYS 2021/22 enacted budget commits to full phase-in of foundation aid to districts by 2023/24. Ms. Costa illustrated that South Country Central School District has benefited over the years from the frozen foundation aid formulas. South Country schools has received $22,525,400 more in foundation aid than it would have received if the formulas were running as prescribed by law. That is not the same story for neighboring districts. In comparing neighboring districts to South Country schools, most neighboring districts have been negatively impacted by the frozen foundation aid formulas. Those districts negatively impacted are poised to receive significant increases in foundation aid over the next three years.

Ms. Costa discussed the impact of using fund balance to restore the proposed reduction of 29.2 full-time equivalent positions in the 2021-2022 budget. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani said, the reductions are due to an enrollment decline and do not affect the district’s educational or extracurricular programs. The administration also presented long range planning information to demonstrate the impact of using one-time revenue sources to support recurring expenditures.

At this time in the budget process, the projected budget totaling $145,451,282 carries a tax levy of $64,349,842 (a .1.25% increase over the 2020-21 school year). The current budget is program-driven and includes five contingent positions, preservation of elementary class sizes, no change in fine and performing arts or interscholastic athletic programs, continued K-12 intervention programs and expanded support for K-5 through summer programming to address pandemic “loss of learning” students need.

A Budget Hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2021 and the Budget Vote and Trustee Election will be held on May 18, 2021.