Dundee budget shows 9.8 percent increase

DUNDEE—The Dundee Central School District’s 2014-15 proposed budget includes a $1,482,411 increase in spending from the current year’s budget. The proposed spending plan, to be voted on May 20, has $16,551,960 in total proposed spending, up 9.84 percent from the year prior. This results in a total property tax levy to be raised of $4,834,657, a 3.89 percent increase from the current year’s budget. The maximum allowable tax levy under the state tax cap is 5.3 percent.
The largest budget changes in the core programs include:
• A 228.7 percent increase in special education instruction for contracts/tuition/PORTALS from an increase in outside placements in the district. This is an increase of $311,059 to a total of $447,045 in 2014-15. Dundee administrator Laurie Hopkins-Halbert said an outside placement includes students who attend outside programs such as BOCES, while also including students enrolled in these special programs who move into the district. She said the number of outside placements is constantly changing and difficult to predict, so the current budgeted number is based on the current needs in the district.
• A 35.6 percent increase in BOCES special education services for an increase in student placements. This is an increase of $132,706 for a total of $505,418.
• A 12 percent increase in special education instruction wages for the addition of one director position. This is a $112,334 increase to a total of $1,044,421.
• A 4.7 percent increase in K-12 regular instruction wages for teaching, support staff and subs. This is a $152,297 increase to a total of $3,377,513.
There are also significant changes in employee benefits, which include:
• A 28.6 percent increase in medical/dental insurance. This is a $575,502 increase to a total of $2,584,392.
• A 11 percent increase in the teachers retirement system. This is a $89,232 increase for a total of $897,175.
• A 13.3 percent increase in the employee retirement system. This is a $46,842 increase for a total of $430,788.
According to the district’s financing plan, state aid has increased $731,887 for the 2014-15 school year, an 8.4 percent increase. The board will also be increasing their use of reserves by $585,970, or 56.7 percent. There will also be a $69,000 transfer from the capital fund.
The proposed budget contains an increase to its administrative component of $33,403. The school program component will see a $1,381,540 increase, while the capital component contains a $67,468 increase. The program component of the budget had the largest increase, containing $12,204,465, a 12.76 percent increase over last year.
The vote on the 2014-15 budget will be held Tuesday, May 20 from noon to 8 p.m. in the district’s public meeting room.