District News

Superintendent carries district message to radio

FFCS Superintendent Dr. James Hoffman discussed the district's 2010-11 budget information and the current state of education as a guest on WVTL Talk Radio's "Coffee with Cudmore" show on Tuesday, May 4.

Dr. Hoffman appeared with Greater Amsterdam School District Superintendent Tom Perillo for an hour-long question-and-answer session. Host Bob Cudmore asked both guests a lengthy list of questions covering both the specifics of next year's proposed budget as well as general questions about the budget process.

Following are a sample of the questions and a summary of Dr Hoffman's responses:

• How much is the budget increasing?

  Fonda-Fultonville's budget is actually decreasing 0.02 percent. (View the 2010-11 budget brochure)

• How would this proposed budget impact taxes?

  The budget will increase the tax levy by 3.98 percent. The decrease in proposed spending is offset by an even greater decrease in state funding requiring a tax increase. Fortunately, the district has new property on the tax rolls that will offset a portion of that increase.

• How will this impact tax rates?

  The district generally avoids estimating tax rates for the 11 communities that comprise our school district. Tax rates are based on the true market value of all properties in our district. That figure changes year-to-year as equalization rates change both the value of properties within a community and the total value of all properties within a school district. Dr. Hoffman will present the district's estimate of tax rates at the Budget Hearing on Monday, May 10. Until the state issues the final tax rolls and equalization rates in midsummer, taxpayers may use the following formula to estimate their taxes:

  Estimated Tax¹ = Full Market Value ² X $15.533 ³ - STAR Exemption⁴

  ¹ This is only an estimate.

  ² Do not confuse full market value with assessed value

  ³ $15.53 is the estimated true value tax rate. The actual rate cannot be calculated until tax rolls are completed.

  ⁴ Standard STAR = $485; Enhanced STAR = $934 (estimated)

• Did the district use fund balance?

  The district proposed to use slightly more fund balance in 2010-11 than it did in 2009-10. The Board of Education was careful to maintain a healthy reserve for the 2011-12 school year when federal stimulus funds expire resulting in a greater loss of school aid. The loss of aid paired with anticipated increases in retirement contributions and other expenses could leave the district with a $1.8 million budget shortfall. The fund balance will be used to soften the effects of that shortfall on the tax levy.

• Did you seek community input?

  The district held a community budget forum in March. At that time, we briefly discussed the 2010-11 budget. Attendees were comfortable that the district had taken appropriate steps toward creating a reasonable proposal. The greater concern was the potential for major changes in the following year when federal stimulus monies expire leaving the district with as much as a $1.8 million funding deficit.

• What is Fonda-Fultonville's history regarding budgets?

  Each year, the Board of Education has attempted to wisely invest the community's tax revenues. In return, the community has a long history of supporting our school budget.

• Is it true that at budget time, districts only have control over 20 percent of the budget?

  Yes. Roughly two-thirds of a school budget is labor—teachers, aides, custodians, cleaners, administrators and secretaries. Once contracts have been signed (usually every four years for teachers and support staff), the associated costs are automatically part of the budget. The Board of Education also has little or no control over other major expenses such as utilities, retirement and insurance costs. So at budget time, the board can only examine 20 percent of the expenses that include items such as athletics and extracurricular activities, certain equipment and supplies, field trips, etc.

• If salaries are such a big part, why doesn't the district renegotiate the contracts?

  During the last contract negotiations, our teachers agreed to changes in health insurance that saved the district the cost of any salary increases for two years. Once contracts are signed, however, they are legally binding. Districts may ask for changes, but employees are under no obligation to make changes. The major unions that represent school employees frown upon reopening contracts fearing that it sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the integrity of the bargaining process.

• What about rumors of changes in school aid for the 2010-11 school year?

  Fonda-Fultonville created a budget based on the cuts outlined in Governor Paterson's proposed state budget. Given the state's fiscal problems and the lack of a state budget, any restoration of aid cuts is unlikely. Should we receive any additional aid, we will likely use most of those funds to offset the deep cuts we anticipate in the 2011-12 school year.

• Why does it seem that we simply throw money at schools without expecting them to be accountable?

  On the contrary, schools are more accountable today than they ever have been. Students must achieve to state standards. Teachers must demonstrate they are qualified to teach their subjects. Our finances are held to a higher standard than private businesses. Taxpayers can feel confident that every tax dollar they give is carefully invested in the education of this community's children.

• Do students have more problems than they once had?

  The current economic downturn has place greater pressures on families and some of those pressures can be seen in the children's academic performance and behavior. That being said, we have professional teachers and staff trained to address these situations. On the whole, however, we have some of the brightest and best students we have ever had. Those children are performing as well as many of those in some the more prestigious schools in the Capital District.

• Are our students prepared for the workplace?

  School has changed dramatically to keep pace with the modern work world. Students are gaining skills that were unheard of when their parents were in school. We are part of the HFM Business-Education Alliance (BEA), a group dedicated to ensuring that our students graduate from high school and are getting the skills they need to be successful once they graduate from our schools. It also promotes the fact that, despite the negativism we often hear, our communities are great places to live and have job opportunities.
  
  <back