School Budget 2015-2016
State Budget Development Process Impedes Local Budget Planning for 2015-16
Unprecedented Lack of January State Aid Runs for Local Budget Planning Purposes, Governor's Linkage of Policy Issues to Fiscal Considerations Frustrate Local School District Budget Development Process, Hamstring 2015-2016 School Budget Planning Across New York State
The Rhinebeck Central School District, along with every other school district in New York State, is facing very frustrating circumstances at the State level that will affect the choices to be made in building next year’s school budget in today’s difficult fiscal climate. As occurred last year, our District is looking at another challenging process of budgetary decision-making to meet the educational needs of our students for the fifth year in a row. This year, a fair and reasonable budget that supports the needs of all children, including those in Rhinebeck, seems difficult to anticipate, especially by April 1.
The Board of Education and the District’s administrators continue their commitment to balancing the educational needs of the community’s children with the current fiscal realities that constrain the ability of taxpayers to provide financial support for those needs. It is important for all Rhinebeck Central School District residents to know and understand the factors that are in play this year as the budgeting process for the 2015-16 school year moves forward.
The Board urges citizens to become more involved regarding the 2015-16 school district budget under development and better educated about the process involved in developing the budget and the factors that should and must be taken into consideration by:
- following the updated budget information posted on this web site over the next several months;
- attending meetings of the Board of Education to access available information and provide input to the Board;
- contacting your elected State officials with your thoughts about:
- an Executive budget proposal that holds State Aid projections, as well as approval of the State budget itself, to legislative acquiescence to the Governor's policy demands, including Education and Ethic reforms;
- a State tax levy cap that continues to limit the ability of local communities to fund educational programs and services without relief from, and in some cases increasing, often-burdensome unfunded State mandates; and
- a State budget that continues to shift the responsibility for funding public schools to local communities
- taking advantage of other avenues that the BOE will make available to access budget information and provide input and feedback.
The public is invited to attend the following Regular and Special Board of Education meetings related to 2015-16 school budget:
- January 13th, January 27th, February 10th, February 24th, March 10th, March 24th, and April 14th – 7:30 pm, BMS/RHS Library
- March 21st- Annual Budget Workshop, 9:00 am, BMS/RHS library
- April 21st - Budget Hearing & BOE Budget Adoption, 7:00 pm, BMS/RHS Library
- May 12th – State-required Budget Hearing, 7:00 pm, BMS/RHS Library
- May 19th – Annual Budget and Board of Education vote – 2:00 to 9:00 pm, BMS Cafeteria
Finally, let us know what you think! Send comments, suggestions or questions on the 2015-16 school district budget to [email protected], a special e-mail address established to solicit and respond to your budget input. In addition, your Board of Education members always appreciate hearing your thoughts and ideas on this topic, or any other.
Files
2015-16 Three Part Budget Summary 4-20-15(PDF - 18 KB)
2015-16 Three Part Budget 4-20-15(PDF - 247 KB)
2015-16 Revenue Projection 4-20-15(PDF - 27 KB)
Budget Adjustments Through 4-14-15(PDF - 48 KB)
2015-16 Budget Reduction Options - Tier 2 to Date as of 3-21-15(PDF - 38 KB)
2015-16 Budget Reduction Options - Tier 1 To Date 3-21-15(PDF - 15 KB)
2015-16 Revenue Projection 3-20-15(PDF - 27 KB)
2015-16 Tax Levy Limit/Cap Calculation(PDF - 12 KB)
RCSD Historical Budget Information(PDF - 63 KB)
Budget Adjustments Through 3-21-15(PDF - 33 KB)
First Draft Budget 1-27-15(PDF - 267 KB)
Potential Programs/Services for 2015-16 12-15-14(PDF - 28 KB)
2015-16 Board Budget Development Calendar(PDF - 100 KB)
2014-15 Adopted School Budget(PDF - 84 KB)