The Baldwinsville Central School District’s Board of Education got its first glimpse of next year’s budget at its Jan. 12 meeting. Assistant Superintendent for Management Services Jamie Rodems presented his estimates for the transportation, benefits and debt service portions of the 2015-16 proposal.

As it stands now, the proposed transportation budget for the ‘15-’16 school year totals $6,005,692, which is $102,633 more than the current school year’s budget of $5,903,059. That’s an increase of about 1.74 percent.

School board member Victor Jenkins questioned Rodems’ allocation of fund balance throughout the proposed budget.

“The idea isn’t just put money in there so you can spend it, [the idea is to] be careful,” Jenkins said.

Rodems said this proposed budget is only an estimate because of unknown variables such as repairs, retirements and fuel prices.

“It’s not ever going to be an exact science, but we’re doing the best that we can,” Rodems said. “This isn’t a budget that’s fixed in time. We’ve got until April.”

Superintendent David Hamilton said compared to other districts in which he’s worked, Baldwinsville has a relatively good head start on the budget.

“Most districts I’ve worked with, their first swing at the budget is in March because of the variables,” Hamilton said. “The downside is [because] it’s so early, we just don’t have the details.”

Hamilton called Rodems’ outlook a “thumbnail sketch” of what ultimately will comprise the final transportation budget.

Board member Jeffrey Marier pointed out that there still can be changes to the budget after the board has voted to approve it.

“Even when we vote on this in April, we’re still guessing on it,” Marier said.

Hamilton likened the budget process to being able to only make one withdrawal from the bank for a whole year, so department heads must do their best to ensure there is enough money for unexpected situations.

Board member Kimberly McIlroy said Baldwinsville is fortunate to have a fund balance to fill in the gaps for such emergencies.

“So many districts don’t have that luxury of a fund balance,” she said. “They’re cutting instructional programs; they’re hitting a wall.”

Rodems’ proposed budget includes $1,340,714 toward materials and supplies for maintenance. Assistant Transportation Supervisor Dana Nelson said the district tries to have its “in-house” mechanics do as many repairs as possible, but some repairs are more cost-effective when farmed out.

“Older buses that are nine or 10 years old, you may have to have something fabricated at the frame shop,” Rodems said. “If you have an older fleet, you’re going to spend a little more time [on maintenance].”

The proposed transportation budget includes $1,014,000 to purchase seven 65-passenger buses at $120,000 each, one $42,000 Chevrolet Suburban and one 32-passenger bus with wheelchair accessibility, which costs $132,000.

“Why would you purchase fewer buses and pay more in maintenance?” Jenkins asked.

Rodems replied that purchasing more buses would negatively affect the district’s debt service and its ability to remain under the state’s 2 percent tax increase cap.

Hamilton asked if Rodems and Nelson were comfortable with the district’s current replacement schedule of the bus fleet.

“We’re on a razor’s edge,” Nelson said, adding that his “wish list” would include 10 buses per year.

Benefits and debt service

Rodems also presented the preliminary undistributed budget for 2015-16, which consists of debt service and benefits.

The budget includes $2,066,127 toward the employees’ retirement system (ERS), which is a 10.2 percent decrease from the current year’s budgeted $2,300,000. It allocates $5,687,500 toward the teachers’ retirement system (TRS), which is down about 11.8 percent from this year’s $6,444,922.

“FICA is following the raises that we give people,” Rodems said of the 2.9 percent increase from this year’s $3,901,647 to the proposed $4,016,397.

Rodems said he did not have a firm number for worker’s compensation, but estimated it in his proposed budget at $692,000. This year, the district budgeted $692,777.

Rodems said many of the district’s worker’s compensation claims are due to the 1 million square feet of parking lots and sidewalks that could become icy and cause slips and falls. He said some claims come from student injuries, as well. To prevent such injuries, B’ville works with a BOCES safety officer to adjust employees’ footwear, salt use and instructional techniques in physical education classes.

As for debt service, B’ville is looking to budget $5,891,613 for next year, a 1.2 percent decrease from the current budget’s debt service and a 27 percent decrease from the 2013-14 year’s actual spending of $8,080,195.

Rodems said the district’s positive financial situation means they won’t have to borrow money to complete the February 2014 building project; they can use capital reserves.

The final budget must be approved by the board of education April 13. The public will vote on the proposal on May 19.

Other business

The school board voted to approve the installation of solar panels through NextEra Energy Resources, made possible by a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant.

Rodems said Baldwinsville, along with the Liverpool and Homer school districts, could save an annual $50,000 to $75,000 in energy costs for the next 20 years.

Hamilton said many of the details of the solar deal need to be ironed out, but the board passed the resolution as a placeholder for the district’s participation in the program.