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Many families in the district are
increasingly stretched financially, and
state unemployment is at its highest rate in
years.
The state is facing a $3 billion budget
deficit in 2010. State aid to BH-BL may
decline by $1 million or more, and the value
of STAR tax exemptions may decline again as
well.
Other non-tax revenue sources may be lower
as well. Interest on
investments remains low, and Medicaid reimbursements
are expected to
decline still further. In 2010-11, BH-BL
will also lose $70,000 in rental income at
the Hostetter Building.
School districts have been told that the
federal stimulus dollars the state is
currently using to pay operating aid will
end in 2011, potentially creating a funding
cliff. In other words, we believe that
2011-12 will be even worse than 2010-11, and
the Board of Education would be
irresponsible not to tackle this as at least
a two-year problem.
Required pension costs will increase by an
estimated 3 percent or more in 2010-11 due to stock
market losses.
Maintaining a
comprehensive instructional program will
require creativity and some different or
reduced program delivery. This will be
particularly challenging when our schools
are already feeling the impact of more than
$1 million in cuts made in the 2009-10
budget
School infrastructure needs
must be addressed
even in tough economic times.
Unlike many Suburban Council school
districts, BH-BL has very little commercial
development, and our tax base is 85-90% residential.
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