HCSD Prepares For 'Perfect Storm' of Budget Obstacles

State funding cuts, unfunded mandates and a sputtering tax base are only some of the difficulties outlined Wednesday by the Harrison Board of Education as it prepares the 2011-12 budget.

While spotlighting ways to cut costs at a local level, the board at times voiced heavy opposition to decisions made by state government. Decisions they say lead to expenses trickling down to local school districts. Those increased costs paired with cuts in state-aid have created a "perfect storm" for the 2010-11 budget, said Harrison Superintendent Louis Wool.

"We are all concerned that the cavalier attitude being taken about the budgeting for schools has the potential to destroy, dismantle, public education permanently," Wool said before the 40-minute budget presentation. 

New York State will cut aid to Harrison $400,000 in 2011-12, but the board said Wednesday that figure is closer to $700,000 because the state is including money the district received from filings unrelated to the state. The ladder figure would represent a 24 percent cut in overall state funding next year.

This is paired with an expected $2 million drop in local assessment values in 2011-12. Assessments dropped $4.5 million last year.

Robert Salierno, assistant superintendent for business, made the district's presentation Wednesday. He explained the challenges ahead, saying the board still has many difficult decisions to make before approving a budget for a public vote this spring. 

So far the 2011-12 budget includes $1.8 million in cuts, but no layoffs. Specifically the board will leave several unfilled positions empty and will cut approximately $400,000 by reducing capital projects.

But predetermined cost increases will still create obstacles. Looking forward the board expects the biggest cost drivers to once again be retirement funds, contractual salary increases and special education services, all of which are not directly controlled locally on an annual basis.

Although the planned $1.8 million reduction will help offset those costs, the board will still need to make further cuts to avoid a substantial tax increase. Salierno said after the presentation it is still too early to estimate what the tax rate might look like next year.

The board also jointly signed a declaration to New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo, outlining opposition to a proposed tax cap in 2012-13 unless it includes some form of mandate relief.

Salierno, along with several members of the board, said they don't specifically oppose a tax cap if the mandates and costs trickled down from Albany come to a halt. That, they say, hasn't happened yet.

A more specific budget workshop is scheduled for March 30.