Components approve $8.1 million plan

Jeffrey Bradt

Lynne Lenhardt

Barbara Mauro

On Monday, April 23, component school districts approved BOCES' proposed $8.1 million administrative budget for the 2012-2013 school year. The districts also re-elected three BOCES Board of Education members.

Component district boards of education annually vote on BOCES' administrative budgets in April. They "vote" on the rest of the $103.8 million budget by deciding whether or not to participate in BOCES services.

"I have thanked our components for their support, particularly as they are all feeling the crunch at the district level," said District Superintendent Charles Dedrick. "I also thank staff — this positive vote shows components' confidence in our services and is a confirmation that our expertise is valued. Thank you for all you do for our districts and students."

The administrative portion of the overall $103.8 million budget is composed of two portions: the cost of current operations and retiree health insurance costs. Spending for operations would increase by approximately $4,400 in the proposed budget.

Retiree health insurance costs are slated to rise due to increases in premiums and the addition of 25 anticipated retirements. However, due to a voluntary salary freeze by the Program Associates Organization(PAOs), continuing cost-saving efforts and the use of reserve funds, the administrative portion has been held to a 1.75% increase in charges to component district assessments.

Combined capital and administrative charges increase by 1.46 percent.(See charges by district.)

Board members elected

Components also re-elected Jeffrey Bradt, Lynne Lenhardt, and Barbara Mauro to the board for three-year terms.
Meet the board members.

Vote details

Component districts' boards convened special meetings on April 23 to vote on the administrative budget. Twenty-one of the 23 component districts voted to accept the proposed budget; two districts did not meet to vote.

Budget questions?

More budget details are online.