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Date: 3/29/2023
BELCHERTOWN — Although the total enrollment of Belchertown schools has slightly decreased over the years, inflation has caused the proposed budget to rise.
Superintendent Brian Cameron and Assistant Superintendent Shawn Fortin discussed a draft of the fiscal year 2024 budget at the School Committee’s March 21 meeting.
The FY24 level service budget request is in the amount of approximately $33 million.
Cameron said, “I want to be clear, that is a true level service budget.”
That is an increase of almost $2 million, or a 6.26% change from FY23 to FY24.
According to Cameron, the budget increase could have been lower if the fixed costs did not increase by as much as they did.
Cameron said, “It was interesting putting this [budget] together because once you take non-discretionary expenses out, we only have a $682,000 ask for an increase. Everyone is dealing with expenses. I’m sure everyone in town — oil, electricity, transportation.”
Electricity will see the biggest percent increase at 69.58% or $225,665. Out-of-district private tuition will increase by 34%, or $400,719, oil costs will see a 15% increase, or $55,302, and transportation will see an increase of 12%, or $306,373.
The total non-discretionary increase is $1.27 million or 5.69%, due to the rising prices of oil, electricity, out of district private tuition, transportation and benefits.
Tuitions are the only area that will see decreases in cost and that is because since the 2016 school year, the total enrollment has decreased slightly each year starting at 2,354 students and dropping to 2,125 students this school year.
“Student numbers are down but the student needs are higher. You are getting more students will mental health issues, more students with special education. You must factor all that. It is not like if you have 100 less students you can cut a teacher,” Cameron added.
Instruction, transportation, operation and maintenance of the buildings and benefits will see increases.
Business Manager Mark Chapulis added, “There was an invitation for bids for a new transportation contract because Belchertown’s will be expiring this June and the results of that are a 12 percent increase over last year’s numbers.”
The operation and maintenance budget is increasing because of the increase in oil and electricity prices.
According to Cameron, areas of need that he wants to focus on for continued growth in Belchertown schools are safety, teaching and learning, technology, health and wellness and maintenance.
Cameron and the School Committee then presented the proposed budget at a joint meeting with the Finance Committee and Select Board on March 22.
Before the presentation started, the School Committee expressed that they were upset that not everyone was present.
Town Accountant Jill Rossi, Town Administrator Gary Brougham, Select Board member Peg Louraine and Finance Committee member Angela McCall were absent. Select Board members Ed Boscher and Ron Aponte attended virtually.
Finance Committee Chair Laurie Shea said, “Time is of the essence, and I apologize that we were not able to have a more robust discussion based on some absences. I think working together collaboratively as a town and a school is the best course of action for the whole town.”
During the presentation, Chapulis explained that the schools are applying $1.25 million for School Choice in the FY24 budget but it can help with tuitions.
He said, “That number is more than last year and more than we are due to take in but we are using School Choice for two reasons. We are using School Choice to offset the additional tuition expenses which we haven’t done in the past, and we have tried to be prudent going forward as to try to keep School Choice balance at a particular level and work to maintain that. That offsets what the taxpayers must pay for school budget.”
Shea asked if there are any positions funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Cameron said, “Those were all one year positions. This is the last year and they will be gone next year. We used to have eight teachers at every grade K-6. We now have seven, so we have cut those positions. We had more support staff but have cut those positions.”
Finance Committee member Michael Otto asked where the losses would be if the schools were to make cuts to bring its budget down.
Cameron said, “We are looking at teaching staff. You are going to have larger class size; you are going to have less programming. Each year I have presented the budget we have had to make the decision of not filling retired positions to do our share of coming to the table with cuts.”
Shea added, “I have always found you [Cameron] and the School Committee to be transparent and cooperative and collaborative in doing the best you can with what you have and working with the town to make sure every gets served.”
There will be a FY24 budget hearing on April 11 followed by a School Committee vote on April 25
This will give the school department time before Town Meeting on May 8.
The Finance Committee, Select Board and school department will try to meet once more before April 11 to make sure every is present.
Cameron added that the schools are still waiting to hear the federal and state grants they are receiving but will have an accurate budget to present to the community with no substantial changes by April 11.