PACT update -- BOE meeting Monday; PACT meeting Wednesday
The BOE will meet this Monday May 4th at 7:30pm at Baldwin to discuss the budget, followed by an executive session regarding contract negotiations.
While PACT fully supports the teachers, it is our hope that a reasonable compromise can be reached that preserves programs and positions with some degree of wage concessions. It is still likely that even with some degree of wage concessions significant cuts will be required.
I am attaching below an email to staff from Dr. Forcella outlining possible cuts if wage concessions are not reached.
Regardless of the outcome of these negotiations, passing the next budget on May 19th will be absolutely crucial. Polling will take place at all stations (Cox, Leete, Firestation, Baldwin, and Jones).
There are those who want to see a zero tax increase in this economy (see comments following: http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/04/29/news/shoreline/b2-gubudget...). With the decrease in revenues and the fund balance issue, this would represent approximately $2.4M in additional cuts beyond the $1.6M already cut. If the budget fails multiple times the fallback position is keeping the mil rate stable, meaning a zero tax increase. This would be devastating to the programs in Guilford.
Of note, the $1.2M cut out of the education budget will save the average taxpayer in Guilford less than $10 per month.
The result on May 19th will be dependent on who is more motivated – those who want to preserve our quality of town support and education or those who want taxes flat. PACT will be meeting this Wednesday 7.30pm at the Community Center in the Alexander Lounge to discuss. Please consider joining us,
Regards,
Chris
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April 28, 2009
TO: All Staff
FROM: Tom Forcella
RE: Budget Issues
As I expressed in my e-mail after the failed referendum, I would make every attempt to communicate to staff members accurate information about the budget as it becomes available. Please consider this communication the next update regarding the FY2009-10 budget.
Last evening the Board of Finance held a special meeting and reduced the education budget by $1,178,000 and the town budget by $429,000. Even with these sizeable reductions, the tax increase would still be at 4.4%. The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet Thursday morning to set the date of the next town meeting and the date of the second referendum (tentative referendum date is May 19th). It is our understanding that all five polling locations in Guilford will be open for this vote.
The Board of Education also met last night and discussed my proposal to
arrive at the reductions. Anticipating that a reduction from the Board of Finance would be forthcoming, I met with the District Leadership Team on Friday of last week to discuss possible budget reduction scenarios.
The proposal I shared with the Board of Education last night included a
combination of staff reductions and other non-staff-related savings. With regard to staff reductions, the specific positions were not discussed rather an overall plan was shared.
Listed below are the areas that were suggested to the Board of Education:
Certified Staff Reductions: 11 staff members (8.3 FTE) $ 427,000
Non-certified Staff Reductions: 10 staff members (9.5 FTE) $ 226,000
Total Staff Reductions: 21 staff members (17.8 FTE) $ 653,000
The savings proposed in non-staff related areas totaled $547,000. The
significant programs impacted include reductions in professional development ($48,000), a reduction in the number of buses ($42,000), elimination of the middle school athletic programs ($46,000), further reduction in supplies and equipment ($100,000) and the implementation of an extracurricular/athletic user fee which would generate $58,000 in revenue.
Also, it is anticipated that $145,000 in savings will be generated from the Federal Economic Stimulus Funds for education. A number of smaller
reductions were also included to arrive at the $547,000 figure.
Obviously, these reductions will have a significant impact on our programs. I will be meeting this week with the union leadership of all the bargaining units in an effort to reduce the impact on staff and program reductions through wage concessions.
Finally, I realize this information will be a cause for concern for many of you, but I feel it is important to provide accurate information to all of you during these difficult times.
Many of you have e-mailed me with suggestions and I sincerely appreciate your efforts to communicate your ideas to me. I encourage you to continue to contact me with your thoughts. If we work together with our focus on children, I am sure we will get through this financial crisis and continue with the outstanding work that goes on in all of our schools each day.