Schools

Pearl River Board of Education Faces Budget Battle

Pearl River School District Director of Operations Quinton Van Wynen explained the district's financial situation as part of a budget presentation at Wednesday's regular Board of Education meeting.

The Pearl River School District faces a difficult budget process just like every other district in New York State, but it might be a little easier than the administration and board of education had feared.

The district is still dealing with a 10 percent cut in state aid and large increases in health care and retirement costs, but the proposed two percent tax levy cap may not be in place for the 2011-12 budget.

"We had three situations occurring all at the same time  -- Pearl River losing 10 percent in state aid, significant cost increases across the state in terms of healthcare costs and retirement costs and on top of that the projected tax budget cap," Pearl River Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Auriemma said. "As of today, with multiple conversations with our elected officials, it appears that we are 90 percent sure and with each day a little higher than 90 percent sure that the two percent tax levy cap will not be in place this year."

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Auriemma said the district still expects the cap to be in place by 2012-13 and that the budget planning process for the district will be a challenge either way.

"It is important for us to keep in mind that what that does, it certainly helps," Auriemma said. "It is a significant help. What we had with all three of those occurring simultaneously was a looming catastrophe. What we have now has changed from a looming catastrophy to an extraordinary challenge."

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

District Director of Operations Quinton Van Wynen explained many of the details of that challenge during a budget presentation as part of Wednesday's board of education meeting. He included projected numbers with and without the cap.

"Every year I start out by saying that this year is going to be the most challenging ever and each year it turns out that I’m right, unfortunately," Van Wynen said. "This year in particular has been playing out in the newspapers and people are certainly getting a sense not only in New York, but nationally, how big the problems are and that these problems aren’t going to be over this fiscal year. They are going to last for several years."

The budget is expected to increase from $57,904,314 in 2010-11 to $60,506,382 in 2011-12. With the two percent cap, that would leave Pearl River looking to cut $1,874,518 from the budget to keep all of its staff and services, $1,395,518 with a three percent cap (which the district has promised voters it would adhere to).

According to Van Wynen, the district expects to save a total of $565,204 through retirements, not filling vacated positions and special education grant funding, but there are significant cuts remaining that would have to come from staff at the district's five schools, athletics, extra-curricular activities, special education and facilities and technology.

"We just don't have a lot of extras (to cut)," Van Wynen said.

One other potential issue is possible cuts in aid for the use of BOCES programs proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Schools can be reimbursed 60% of the money they pay for shared services coordinated through BOCES, but Cuomo has proposed a major cut in that area while at the same time suggesting that schools should engage in more shared services.

Van Wynen offered the example of hiring officials for scholastic sporting events, which Pearl River currently does through BOCES. The loss of reimbursement might force the district to stop using BOCES, but that would create a much larger workload for the district's athletic office because it would have to set up officiating crews for home events.

Also, the two percent tax levy cap will most likely be in place next year and the district expects state aid to be cut again, at least five percent, creating the potential for further difficulties in upcoming years. Van Wynen projected a budget deficit of $3.55 million for 2012-13 and $5.41 million in '13-14.

The district does have $9.18 million  in total reserves, but most of that is earmarked for specific purposes, with $2.56 million in what he called a "rainy day fund for emergencies."

Pearl River resident Mike Mendel suggested not filling the position of assistant superintendent, which will be vacated by Dr. John Morgano after this school year as he replaces Auriemma as superintendent. Neither Auriemma nor the members of the board who spoke seemed inclined to follow take that route unless absolutely necessary.

"It's a very tough thing to wear both hats in a district," Auriemma said.

"My plan is not to cut it," said long-time board member Bruce Bond.

The public part of the discussion will continue next week. Pearl River will have its next regular board of education meeting next week instead of in two weeks, 7:30 p.m. March 1, with a budget workshop to follow the meeting.


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