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Ask the Superintendent - March 28, 2007
With the wisdom of 20/20 hindsight, I look back to
the fall of 2004 when I made a promise to this
community to maintain a tax levy increase for our
school budgets that would not exceed 5% each year
for the next three years. Although the promise was
sincere and I was convinced the goal was achievable,
it certainly was easier to utter the words than it
has been to craft the budgets and to make the
difficult cuts necessary to meet that threshold. We
were successful in 2005/06 when the community was
presented a budget with a tax levy increase that was
4.8%. Last year, (which is our current school year)
we were also pleased when we were able to hold the
tax levy increase to 4.97%. It was a stretch, but we
did stay under the aforementioned 5%. This year we
are working just as hard, but for many reasons, it
is even more difficult to reach that number. One
obvious reason is the transition time that was
needed for our interim business official to become
accustomed with the Goshen budget process. Also,
there are very few residents in our community that
do not recognize the growth we are experiencing.
Just as our community is growing so too is our
school enrollment. More students translate into
additional expenses for our district. However, I
clearly recall making that promise in 2004 and it is
very important for me to keep my word.
On March 19th, the Central Office Administration
made its 2007/08 budget proposal to the Board along
with updates and refinements from the many budget
presentations made by other district administrators
during the last few months. On Friday, March 23rd,
the Board received the 2007/08 line item budget for
their review. Additional refinements will be made by
the Board of Education and Central Office
Administration on April 10, at the regularly
scheduled Board meeting.
The Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee has once
again been very active and is a key component in the
formulation of the school budget. They too have had
added pressure because their meeting schedule had to
be amended (they started late) due to a slower
budget process this year. Excuses and
rationalizations aside, time is of the essence
because the Board must adopt a budget with which
they feel comfortable at their Special Board of
Education meeting on April 16th. The finalized
budget for 2007/08 will then be presented to the
community at the Annual Budget Vote and School Board
Election on Tuesday, May 15th.
Roy Reese
Superintendent of Schools
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