On May 17 residents approved a $56,115,734 budget for the 2005-06 school year.

The budget passed by a vote of 1,696 to 1,482. Voters also approved the purchase of six buses and two vans by a vote of 2,015 to 1,143. Board of Education members Terry Weiner and Richard Mathews were also re-elected.

Budget details:
See final tax rates, set by the Board of Education in August 2005.

Major cost increases

The budget includes a spending increase of 6.13 percent, or $3.2 million.

"The Board of Education and school administrators worked together to develop a spending plan that continues academic excellence, while being sensitive to the community's ability to maintain the investment," said Superintendent Kevin Baughman. "Costs were reduced in every area of the budget, including funding for equipment, supplies, staff and administrators. The reductions were designed to minimize direct impact on our students while preserving program quality."

The increases in spending, largely out of the district's control, are primarily due to:

● Retirement costs (up $1.3 million) are legally-required, and district contribution rates are set by New York State.
● Health insurance (up $599,981), as a result of increasing rates set by health care companies.
● Staffing costs (up $748,654), due to long-term wage agreements.
These three categories account for 86 percent of the total budget increase.

Budget reductions

To minimize the tax impact, $630,015 in reductions were made to the budget:

● Approximately 5.8 full-time equivalent instructional and administrative staff, including one assistant high school principal and health education director were cut. Most of the positions will be reduced through attrition. (Totaling $306,215)

Enrollment is expected to increase again next school year, so staffing levels were evaluated and adjusted at all buildings to accommodate more students while keeping class sizes within district guidelines. [See chart showing 1990-2005 enrollment.]

● Equipment purchases throughout the district were reduced. ($70,000)

● The School Resource Officer position at Niskayuna High School was eliminated. ($38,000)

● Tile replacement in carpeted classrooms was postponed. (The district has been regularly replacing floors in about 10 rooms per school year). ($30,000)

● Funding for summer curriculum work was reduced. (Teachers work in the summer to develop curriculum). ($25,000)

● Other reductions include: library materials and books, elementary field trips and athletic supplies.

Budget additions:
The budget includes four budget additions, totaling $146,015: phase two of a technology replacement plan, hiring of a computer technician in January, a new e-mail system and a Learning Center at the high school.

Ways to reduce spending:
The district has several ongoing practices to help control costs, including:
● The district participates in an energy consortium through Capital Region BOCES, allowing it to purchase energy for less.
● Many purchases, from printing to paper costs, are competitively bid, so the district can get the lowest price.
● Purchases are made through BOCES whenever possible (such as for computers), so the district receives part of the purchase price back as state aid.
● The district is exploring alternatives to its current health insurance offerings to lower costs.

"We are always looking for ways to lower costs while still providing the top-quality program for which Niskayuna is known," said Superintendent Kevin Baughman.

For additional information about the 2005-06 budget, download the May 2005 budget edition of Your Schools (note: this is a PDF document).

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