2012-2013 Budget Information

Documents:

• Kaleidoscope - May 2012 - Budget Issue
• 2012-2013 Board of Education Proposed Budget for the May 15, 2012 Budget Vote
• Absentee Ballot Application
• Absentee Ballot Letter
• Proposition 2 FAQ
• Superintendent's Recommended 2012-13 Budget
• Superintendent's Recommended 2012-13 Budget Press Release
• Voting Calendar

Budget Meetings/Workshop Dates

• March 1, 2012 – regular meeting of the Board of Education – Budget Overview will be provided
• March 3, 2012 – Board of Education all day budget meeting
• March 8, 2012 – Board of Education meeting – budget may be discussed
• March 15, 2012 – Board of Education meeting – budget may be discussed
• March 22, 2012 – Board of Education meeting – budget adoption

Budget News

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KLSD Board of Education Adopts Proposed 2012-13 Budget

The Katonah-Lewisboro School District Board of Education adopted the proposed 2012-13 budget and a separate capital projects proposition at the March 22 Board of Education meeting. The adopted budget of $112,996,167 was reduced from the original Superintendent’s budget presented earlier in March by $66,667.

The reductions were realized through refinancing debt and removing some funds budgeted for a tax anticipation note. The budget-to-budget increase from 2011-12 to 2012-13 is $1,976, 123, or 1.78%, The tax levy is estimated to be $101,865,151, a 2.09% increase over the 2011-12 tax levy.  This is below the District’s calculated tax levy cap of 3.52%. The tax levy limit exclusive of one-time expenses is 2.37%.

The separate proposition, which was also adopted, asks for authorization for the District to use $5.9 million from its reserves to address prioritized capital (facility) projects. Funding these projects does NOT require borrowing or increase taxes, as the funding sources exist in the capital fund reserve established in 2009, along with fund balance that became available as a result of the conclusion of employee negotiations. It addresses approximately 20% of a much larger 5-year capital improvement plan that was completed by an external firm in order to prepare for the future of the district’s facilities.

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Proposition Calls for Completion of Capital Projects with No Tax Impact

When Katonah-Lewisboro residents go to the polls on May 15 to vote on the proposed 2012-13 school year budget, they will also be asked to consider a separate proposition to fund infrastructure improvements at all buildings.

There is no tax impact associated with approval of the proposition.

The proposition asks for authorization for the District to use $5.9 million from its reserves to address prioritized capital (facility) projects. Therefore, funding these projects does NOT require borrowing or increase taxes, as the funding sources exist in the capital fund reserve established in 2009, along with fund balance that became available as a result of the conclusion of employee negotiations.

The $5.9 million in projects addresses approximately 20% of the much larger 5-year capital improvement plan (estimated at $29.6 million) that was completed by an external firm in order to prepare for the future of the district’s facilities. The projects included in this proposition were selected as priority items based on health and safety concerns, as well as the ability to provide greater energy efficiency.

“We have the funds for the projects in our reserves, and are pleased to not have to borrow or raise taxes in order to complete these items, which have been identified as priorities,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Kreutzer. “The administration and Board of Education kept our taxpayers in mind as we developed a below-tax cap proposed budget that maintains our educational program, and we were equally mindful in developing this proposition.”

Although the funds for these projects are already on-hand, taxpayer approval is required in order for the District to transfer these monies for the purpose designated. Again, taxes will not be impacted as a result of this proposition.


The items included in the proposition are as follows:

• Replacement of both boilers at Increase Miller Elementary School
• Replacement of both boilers at Meadow Pond Elementary School
• Replacement of leaking foam roofs with EPDM (15 year warranty) roofs (roof replacements are needed in various areas at JJMS, JJHS, KES, and IMES)
• Completion of necessary paving of playground areas, painting of classrooms and hallways, improvement of site lighting and replacement of flooring throughout the District in areas identified as high priority
• Installation of occupancy sensor lighting controls to reduce energy costs

All labor, materials, equipment, apparatus, and incidental expenses are included in the $5.9 million estimated to cover these projects. If the proposition is approved, smaller projects will be completed beginning this summer, with the boiler replacements and roof replacements scheduled for the Summer of 2013.