Superintendent's Column

The Budget Process Explained

(From time to time, I ask some of the distinguished members of our administrative staff to write a guest column for this space. This week's column was written by Pamela Gluckin, Assistant Superintendent for Business.)

Next week, voters in the Roslyn Public Schools will be going to the polls to decide on the school budget for 2001-02. While the vote itself comes down to a decision on a single number, the process through which the school district arrives at that number is a long and complex one.

Almost as soon as a new school year begins, district staff begins to review their budgetary needs for the following school year. By December, the district's principals and directors submit budget proposals for their respective buildings and departments. These proposals are then reviewed by myself, the Superintendent and other central office administrators before being presented to the Board of Education for public consideration at several meetings in the late winter and early spring.

The review by central administration is a very lengthy and thorough one, as crucial decisions must be made about what items should remain in the school budget and what items can be taken out. Every year, a substantial number of items are cut at this stage. For example, the initial budget proposals would have added up to a budget-to-budget increase for 2001-02 of 15 percent. Weeks and months of continual communication and much effort were necessary to trim this number to a more reasonable increase of less than 10 percent.

When taking any item out of the initial proposals, there is a simple question that we ask: how will it affect children? As we continue through these years of extraordinary enrollment growth--25 percent in the last decade, or the equivalent of a whole new school!--it is more important than ever to ensure that resources are concentrated on the instructional program.

This is no easy task. Costs have skyrocketed in many budget categories. A few examples: Some textbooks now cost upwards of $100 apiece. The price of fuel has an enormous impact on the expense of operating our large bus fleet. Health insurance premiums have increased 52.5 percent in the last five years, including a 12.5 percent increase anticipated next year.

The district has taken a number of important steps to minimize the increase in operating expenses. Cooperative bidding and shared services in transportation, supplies and other areas save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Employee contributions for health insurance premiums have saved taxpayers $1.8 million over the last seven years. Alternative funding from sources ranging from the Federal government to our two local educational foundations helps to bring additional revenues to the district and thereby relieve some of the pressure on taxpayers.

We can always do more to save taxpayers money, and we will continue to do so. We also welcome the many suggestions and comments we receive from residents, some of which have in fact resulted in savings. My door is (literally) always open and I encourage anyone with questions about the budget and the fiscal operations of the school district to contact me at any time at 625-6307.

Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 15, in the Roslyn High School gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Please exercise your right to vote by participating in the school budget vote, the election of Board of Education trustees and other referenda that will be on the ballot.