|
March
28, 2012
Dear
MCS Parents and Supporters:
On
March 27, 2012, the administration presented its
initial Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013) general fund
budget recommendations to the Board of Education
for consideration. The recommendations were
developed based on what we currently know and our
best estimate of future revenues. Approximately,
98% of the general fund revenue is derived from
two sources: State funding for education (40%) and
local property and excise taxes (58%). In
developing the FY2013 budget, we considered our
current year’s budget and the possible economic
climate for next year.
The
development of the Marietta City Schools
maintenance and operations budget, generally
referred to as the general fund budget, begins in
January of each year and ends with the adoption of
the budget in June by the Board of Education. The
administration strives to communicate budget
information throughout the process to keep all
stakeholders informed.
Our
focus is always on what is best for our students
and our school system. We strive to retain as many
of our valued educators and support staff, and
reward them whenever possible. This year, we
propose a 2% step compensation increase for all
permanent employees. In addition, we don’t foresee
the need for any furlough days or increases in
class size. However, in order to provide increased
school-based technical support we will need to
reduce support staff in other
areas.
Unfortunately,
the state continues to increase our state health
benefit plan (SHBP) premiums. As a result, in
order to offset the district’s increase of $1,800
per year, per classified employee (an increase
that we will incur again in FY2014 and FY2015), we
propose a $20 reduction in the current $40 board
contribution paid towards employee health
premiums. We also propose to eliminate the board
contribution to the Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA)
Plan, for all new hires who qualify for the
Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS), until their
fourth year of employment. The board will also
need to absorb some Special Education expenditures
as federal funding is reduced.
As
we have done in the past two years, this initial
budget will include a recommendation to utilize
undesignated reserve funds. If needed, we will
utilize $3.67M of undesignated reserve. However,
we have consistently budgeted in a conservative
manner, allowing us to meet our financial and
program goals without previously needing to use
budgeted reserves.
I
will send additional updates to you as more
information becomes available. These
recommendations are a starting point for the
ongoing budgeting process that will continue until
a final recommendation is made to the Board of
Education on May 15, 2012. Our next scheduled
budget board meeting is April 10, 2012 at 6
p.m.
Sincerely,
Dr.
Emily Lembeck
Superintendent
Marietta
City Schools
| 