(January 2008) -- BOCES Assistant District Superintendent for Business Services Mark Jones presented the 2008-2009 proposed administrative and capital budgets and outlined a second year of significant health care savings to the BOCES Board of Education and superintendents in January. Like last year, BOCES officials worked earlier on the administrative and division budgets so they could provide better information to districts earlier in their budgeting process.

The administrative budget

The proposed administrative budget of $6,846,312 represents an average increase in assessment to component schools of 2.95% – the same as the current year’s increase in assessment.

The administrative budget has two major components – current operations and post-employment benefits (retiree health care). Under Education Law, retiree costs must be placed in the administrative budget. The $197,686 budget-to-budget increase represents an increase of $348,783 in current operations and a $151,097 decrease in retiree costs, which includes an estimate of 35 new retirees. The realignment of health care options that reduced the current budget by approximately $500,000 will save the BOCES nearly $600,000 in 2008-2009.

Other factors affecting the administrative budget include salary increases for employees and costs related to a BOCES-wide Facility Plan which, according to Jones, an educational planner will assist in tracking assets and their verification based on audit recommendations.

BOCES administration has again decreased operational expenses for supplies, equipment and contract service and maintenance.

"It’s been a multi-year effort to arrive at where we are now. The administration, staff, and Board have worked together on issues such as cost containment of health care. The result is a very reasonable administrative budget," said Lynne Lenhardt, BOCES Board president.

The capital budget

Jones also presented the proposed capital budget of $2,296,024. Next year’s capital budget represents an 11.2 percent increase over the current year and a 6.2 percent average increase to component schools. The budget reflects the costs associated with the rental of facilities and 80 classrooms which house BOCES programs and services in component districts. In addition, $400,000 has been appropriated for capital improvements to BOCES-owned facilities, such as window replacement at Maywood School and lighting upgrades at both CTE centers. The 2008-2009 per RWADA cost for the BOCES capital budget is approximately 26 percent less than the statewide average.

BOCES Annual Meeting

The BOCES Annual Meeting will be held on April 9 at the Albany Career and Tech campus. Building on the success of last year’s event, the evening will again showcase BOCES programs, services and students. A reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. will kick off an "international" evening that will include a brief presentation of the administrative budget, introduction of the Board of Education candidates, live cooking demonstrations, international cuisine, student performances and more.

Vote

Component school boards will vote on the administrative budget and elect members to the BOCES Board of Education on April 21, 2008.

View the BOCES administrative, capital and division budget powerpoint presentation (PDF document)