FCSD Unveils First Draft of Budget

FULTON, NY – The first draft of the 2016-2017 Fulton school district budget in its earliest form shows a 1.97% increase from the previous year’s budget.

In its draft form, schools officials ensure many changes to the budget will still take place before the April 12 tentative date of approval as the first draft is awaiting definite figures from the state.

The draft budget expenditure total of $69,995,533 is up $1,345,472 from the 2015-2016 school year budget, an increase of 1.97%.

However, the revenues draft brings forth $69,292,952 which totals a shortfall of $702,581 in revenues needed for the budget despite a local tax levy of $20,583,063, an increase within the limit at $88,451 from the previous year.

Schools officials remain hopeful that foundation aid from the state will increase when the official decision is released in April despite being informed that districts throughout the state that have not had their gap elimination adjustment fully restored will be first priority.

School officials also addressed the idea of proposing a budget with a tax levy amount above the limit, requiring a super majority of voters, at least 60% to approve the budget.

“We’ve always stayed at the permissible limit,” said Superintendent of Schools, Bill Lynch. “I’m not here recommending we go out and do a super majority but historically the voters have always supported a dollar amount that is well above what the cap puts us at this year.”

He indicated that the community support has also historically proven to generally be that of a super majority while noting that five out of the last six years more than 60% of voters have approved the budget.

“This is not a decision for tonight, but it is something we need to be considering through the next month as we await a decision on state aid,” Lynch said.

Lynch explained the only other area left then to consider is reductions in spending.

“We need to stay tight at fund balance and reserves this year,” said Lynch, and after reiterating that Fulton is a low spending district seeing as “we consistently under spend districts that are like us… my reservation to cut the overall spending is we are already a low spending district and we are not lowering our expectations and outcomes for kids.”

He elaborated that the area of operations and management will be prioritized and categorized by what is necessary and critical to running the schools and buildings and what can be put off temporarily before then looking at staffing and specifically looking at retirements and any other positions not needing replacements without affecting class sizes, particularly at the elementary level.

Lynch said he will return with specific reductions to be addressed at the next meeting scheduled for March 22 at 7:30 p.m. to be held at Volney Elementary School.

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