The Sidney Central School District Board of Education unanimously approved the 2014-15 budget during its meeting Monday, April 21.
Sidney Superintendent Bill Christensen presented a $24,777,768 plan, which increases spending $802,723, or 3.5 percent higher than the 2013-14 budget.
A major part of the increase is about $300,000 in employee benefits, which includes a 17 percent jump in teacher retirement costs and an 8.25 percent bump in health insurance benefits. Special education also went up this year, increasing by about $200,000.
For the fourth straight year, the tax levy has gone down, this time an additional 2.5 percent. Over the last four years, the district has reduced the tax levy by more than $400,000, or nearly 10 percent.
“I’m pleased we’re able to stay in such a strong fiscal situation,” Christensen said. “That allows us to pass the savings to the tax payers and not have to raise taxes.”
There were no teacher cuts this year and no loss of programs, including Sidney’s 39 college-level courses, the summer enrichment program and STEM education for grades 3-12. The district is also adding $150,000 to its music program, purchasing two new handicap-accessible busses and other maintenance vehicles.
State aid covers 70 percent of the budget ($17,244,806), and the tax levy covers 25 percent ($6,122,829). The remaining five percent of the budget is made up of the fund balance, appropriate reserve and other revenue.
“We are able to continue our goal of giving our students the best possible opportunities without additional cost to the tax payers,” Christensen said. “It was very important for us to maintain our high-level programs to make sure our students continue to grow and be prepared for the future.”
There will be a community presentation of the budget at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8 in the high school library. For those who can’t attend, the presentation will also be available online.
Sidney Superintendent Bill Christensen presented a $24,777,768 plan, which increases spending $802,723, or 3.5 percent higher than the 2013-14 budget.
A major part of the increase is about $300,000 in employee benefits, which includes a 17 percent jump in teacher retirement costs and an 8.25 percent bump in health insurance benefits. Special education also went up this year, increasing by about $200,000.
For the fourth straight year, the tax levy has gone down, this time an additional 2.5 percent. Over the last four years, the district has reduced the tax levy by more than $400,000, or nearly 10 percent.
“I’m pleased we’re able to stay in such a strong fiscal situation,” Christensen said. “That allows us to pass the savings to the tax payers and not have to raise taxes.”
There were no teacher cuts this year and no loss of programs, including Sidney’s 39 college-level courses, the summer enrichment program and STEM education for grades 3-12. The district is also adding $150,000 to its music program, purchasing two new handicap-accessible busses and other maintenance vehicles.
State aid covers 70 percent of the budget ($17,244,806), and the tax levy covers 25 percent ($6,122,829). The remaining five percent of the budget is made up of the fund balance, appropriate reserve and other revenue.
“We are able to continue our goal of giving our students the best possible opportunities without additional cost to the tax payers,” Christensen said. “It was very important for us to maintain our high-level programs to make sure our students continue to grow and be prepared for the future.”
There will be a community presentation of the budget at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8 in the high school library. For those who can’t attend, the presentation will also be available online.