Article 2

Status

Voter's Guide Explanation

This Warrant article contains the School Board and Budget Committee recommended school operating budget for the 2007-2008 school year. In accordance with state regulations, the default budget is also included. If the recommended budget does not pass, the default budget of $22,050,613 would take effect.  The difference between the recommended and default budgets is $499,521.

Review of the recommended 2007 budget versus the 2006 operating budget shows a net increase of $1,336,941.

$783,117 of the increase comes from three key areas: mandatory health insurance premium increases, mandatory employer paid benefit increases, and the second year lease payment for modular classrooms at Pelham High School. $395,000 of the increase comes from life safety improvements at Pelham High School. Special Education cost increases represent $172,365 of the increase.

Life safety improvements at Pelham High School represent a significant part of the budget increase over the previous year’s budget. The budgeted amount of $395,000, which is supported by the Budget Committee, will be used for life safety improvements as identified by the Fire Chief and State Fire Marshall in three areas of the high school comprised of approximately 10,000 square feet. The Art and Math area will be reconfigured to provide direct egress to the exterior with new floors, ceilings, mechanical and electrical systems and to correct the dead-end corridor in the English area by creating a corridor to a nearby exterior door.[1] The cost items for the high school improvements are broken down as follows:

                        1. $180,000       Installation of a new egress through the art area;

                        2. $185,000       Installation of a new egress through the math area; and

                        3. $30,000         Corridor extension for English area to provide egress.

$255,346 was reduced from the previous year’s budget through reductions in the following areas: vocational education ($9,487), library services ($10,286), building operations ($51,539), special education transportation ($29,910), community services ($52,374), interest on Pelham Elementary School ($51,750), and transfers to the capital reserve fund ($50,000) which was funded from a warrant article last year.

The budget for regular programs shows a decrease because the contract between the School District and the Pelham Education Association is represented in a separate warrant article. As a result, the proposed budget includes no salary increases for professional teaching staff.

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