Brady Addresses Amity Budget Critics

Brady approached the microphone on several occasions to answer critics of the budget, which goes to referendum on May 4.

Here is what he sent out to Amity parents on Friday morning:

We attended the Orange Town meeting last night for the purpose of presenting the Amity budget and responding to questions. There were only three individuals who spoke in reference to our 2011-2012 budget.

Two individuals are opposed to the budget simply because, at 1.52% they believe “ it is not low enough”. One individual asked a question by stating that “there is discussion in the community about Amity’s $1,000,000 surplus in this year’s operating budget”  The individual asked “”with a million dollar surplus, why should Amity receive any increase at all”

I responded to this question last night, and I want to address this issue to you because it is false. Amity does not have a $1,000,000 surplus in the current operating budget. We have, however, taken prudent steps, as outlined below, to minimize the 2011-2012 budget impact on taxpayers.

1.       Over the course of the 2010-2011 budget year, we have been able to set aside $675,000 to be used for the 2011-2012 budget year. These funds became available as follows:

a.       We saved $177,000 during the hiring process which concluded last August, well after the budget was passed. When we budget for replacement teachers, we use a formula based upon past experience. This past year, we were able to hire outstanding teachers at a cost savings of $177,000.

b.      Special education transportation ($176,000). When we put the 2010-2011 budget together we planned on a specific number of students needing specialized out of district placements which required special transportation. Over the course of the year, Ms. Raiola and her staff worked effectively to return a number of students to Amity and we were able to save transportation costs in the amount of $176,000.

c.       Due to favorable worker’s compensation claims, our insurance for these cases came in $67,000 lower than budgeted. Again, this information was not available at the time the budget was constructed, and the $67,000 added to the balance of funds.

d.      Electricity costs were $65,000 lower than anticipated due to a number of conservation measures which could not be precisely predicted as the budget was put together.

e.      Similarly, our fuel oil usage, due to conservation measures netted a savings of $49,000.

f.        Finally, higher revenues in several areas make up the balance of the $675,000.

The Amity finance Committee and the Board of Education could well have spent this money on needed items at Amity. Instead, in light of difficult fiscal times, a decision was made early in the year to hold these funds for use in the 2011-2012 budget. Some are now calling this “padding the budget” or having too much money to start with. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are being criticized now for prudent fiscal decisions that are helping all three towns with their allocations for 2011-2012.

There were a number of additional creative measures taken to reduce the tax burden on member towns. These include the following:

a.       Two years ago, the audit of the construction project completed in 2007 was finalized. A balance of over $500,000 remained. A

Decision was made to use a portion of this balance to lessen the tax burden on the member towns this year and next year. Again, the Board would have been within its rights to spend this money, but instead decided to assist the tax payers. Some now see this as “padded money” . Again, a falsehood.

b.      Finally, we conducted a refinancing of our construction bonds. The savings from this refinancing became available in November of this school year. Instead of spending this money, the Finance Committee and Board decided to hold it in escrow to help with the 2011-2012 budget. Again, a fiscally prudent move.

I wanted to share this information so that the facts are known in order to combat falsehoods and myths about our budget.