Waitsfield Elementary School

Annual Meeting Budget

Presentation: March 5, 2013

After several years of minimal increases or decreases, this year’s proposed budget is a 6.3% increase, primarily as a result of fixed costs..

2007-2008 $1,969,663 7.6%

2008-2009 $2,099,637 6.6%

2009-2010 $2,162,793 3.0%

2010-2011 $2,115,826 -2.2%

2011-2012 $2,149,589 1.6%

2012-2013 $2,169,090 0.9%

2013-2014 $2,306,624 6.3%

The proposed budget:

• Level funds current programming.

• Responds to individual student needs & size of incoming kindergarten.

• Follows a multi-year plan to address declining enrollment (staffing has decreased over past years and will decrease again after next year)

• Is designed to meet the financial needs of the community while maintaining rigorous and rich programming for students.

FY 14 Budget Changes: Fixed Costs

Health Insurance, as set by insurer, up $53,842 (14% increase in cost, 2.48% of budget)

5-year transportation contract results in $11,240 increase (.52% of budget) off-set by state reimbursement of 48%

$9,813 (.45% of budget) in preschool partnership costs for services provided in 2012-2013 off-set by state allocated funds in 2012-2013

year

FY 14 Budget Changes: Student Needs Special education contracted services up $36,800 (1.7%

of budget). off-set by special education cost reimbursement of 56%

Increase nurse to full time ($13,458, or .62% of budget) to respond to individual student needs.

Establish 2nd kindergarten class, for one year, responding to anticipated enrollment. Reduce a classroom position at the 3rd/4th grade level. cost neutral)

Slight increase of paraprofessional support, again in response to specific student needs off-set by special education reimbursement of 56%

Special Education Costs Perspective

Waitsfield has a greater than state average percentage of students receiving special education support services (18.92% of W.E.S students, vs. VT avg of 15.37%), yet has historically provided effective services at a lower than average cost.

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

$4,000

Special Education Costs Per Pupil

WaitsfieldWWSUVT Avg

Special Education Costs Perspective

Paraprofessional StaffingVT. avg = 1 para: 4 students w/disabilitiesW.E.S. avg = 1 para: 11.97 students

w/disabilities**we have a slightly higher than VT avg.

professional staff: students w/disabilities ratio

More than 20% of our students receiving special education services are identified with intensive needs.

We are committed to supporting all of our students in experiencing success and growth, but carefully evaluate strategies for their cost efficiency and efficacy.

FY 14 Projects :Replace cabinetry and leaking sinks in some of the original classrooms.Paint gym and library. Gym door replacement.Replacement of non-functioning cabinet heater.

Reserve funds are also continued savings for other future needs identified in our long-range capital improvement plan.

Facility Reserve Fund: Budgeted contribution of $22,079 (Prior year’s fund balance)

Two-vote Explanation If per pupil education spending exceeds statewide average AND budget is greater than the prior year, adjusted by inflation index, two votes are required to pass a budget.

While many proposed increases have offsetting revenue, an decrease of overall revenue for this year triggers the two vote clause. Use of one-time federal funds ($30,056) and return of a significant fund balance ($71,155) led to a higher revenue stream for last year. -8.8% decrease in revenue funds for this budget causes our education spending (budget – anticipated revenues) to be higher.

Schools with higher per pupil costs than ours may not have two votes due to consistency in spending; recent budget decreases or only slight increases made us more likely to have a two vote scenario.

Percent of Budget by Area

Direct Instruc-tion58%

Special Educa-tion18%

Admin-istra-tion7%

Build-ings/

Grounds

11%

Transportation2%

WWSU4%

Population Trends/Predictions

‘05 ‘06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 13 14120

160

200

145154

171

160155

169

151145 145 148

While future population is somewhat difficult to predict, we anticipate that the decline experienced over the past few years has mostly stabilized.

’05 - ‘07 includes students in preschool partnership, not at W.E.S.

Tax Impact of Proposed BudgetsWhat is the Common Level of Appraisal?

CLA is the ratio of the estimated assessed value vs. market value.

Waitsfield’s CLA is 105.74% (up from 104.42%). An increase in the CLA indicates a decline in property values & the tax rate.

2013-2014 Estimated Resident Tax RatesDuxbury Fayston Moretown

Waitsfield

Warren

Waterbury

$1.50 $1.49 $1.50 $1.39 $1.35 $1.39

Waitsfield School Tax Rates*calculations include proposed Harwood budget

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Common Level of Appraisal

98.80% 96.52% 101.57% 104.42% 105.74%

Homestead Tax Rate

$1.28 $1.27 $1.29 $1.32 $1.47

Estimated Actual Tax Rate (after CLA is applied)

$1.30 $1.31 $1.27 $1.27 $1.39 (9.4% increase)

Non-Residential Tax Rate

$1.37 $1.40 $1.34 $1.32 $1.35

The Board of School Directors is is committed to crafting afiscally responsible budget in this and coming years. Waitsfield students remain high achieving on standardized measures, successful in their transition to Harwood Union School and beyond, and one of our greatest town assets.The board has the simultaneous priorities of insuring sustainability while simultaneously delivering a top-notch educational experience.

Budgeting: Looking Ahead