Preliminary BASD Budget Narrowly Passes, Includes 1.7% Tax Increase

By a vote of 5-4, the BASD school board approved a preliminary budget that includes a 1.7 percent tax increase at a special meeting that took place after a finance committee meeting and a budget hearing Monday evening.

The increase will cover an approximately $2.1 million funding gap for the 2011-12 school year and leave the district an estimated $1 to 2 million capital reserve at year's end, an amount recommended by the administration for the fiscal health of the district.

Board members Benjamin Tenaglia, Irene Follweiler, Loretta Leeson and Rosario Amato opposed the budget's approval. All had expressed disapproval of a tax hike during ongoing budget negotiations.

The tentatively approved budget comes in with expenditures at about $202.5 million, and calls for the elimination of about 85 teaching positions in the district, less than originally called for. Also restored by its passage are three high school guidance positions and midday kindergarten bus runs. A restoration of extracurricular funding means school clubs will not lose the $10,000 they depend on.

The restored line items will be offset by the elimination of two middle school librarians and an elementary specialist, along with $456,000 that was shaved off the district's share of the BATVS budget.

In another narrow decision, the board voted 5-4 to officially direct the administration to initiate talks with the teacher's union to explore the possibility of a salary freeze or partial freeze.

The move, initiated by Amato, was seconded, by Leeson.

A freeze would have saved about $2 million at the time teacher contracts were negotiated, said board secretary Stacy Gober. What such a move would save the district now she couldn't estimate.

Board members debated what benefits a freeze would bring to the district.

“To lower taxes or reinstate programs, that's a critical issue in my mind,” said board vice president William Burkhardt.

“I would support it if it was to restore programs, but not if it was to support 'no tax increase,'” said member Michael Faccinetto. “I don't think that's fair.”

Amato said the board should debate what they would do with the savings later.

“First, you have to know if they're willing,” he said.

Board president Michele Cann said the results wouldn't be a permanent solution to the district's revenue issues.

“That's not sustainable budgeting,” she said. “What will happen next year?”

Members Aurea Ortiz, Eugene McKeon, Cann and Burkhardt voted against the direction.

Superintendent Joseph Roy, however, said the district has been in ongoing unofficial talks with union representatives for months. The topics of those discussions are confidential, he added.

Addressing the board, president of the Bethlehem Educators Association Joanne Vitales confirmed that talks have been ongoing, but opined that wage freezes wouldn't fix district funding issues.

“The contract we negotiated saved the school district money,” she said. “A salary freeze will not bring back the...positions the board has cut from our schools.”

About 50 members of the public attended, with the majority that addressed the board saying they favored a tax increase over school program cuts.

The district “has been paying for a Pinto when they should be aiming for a mid-class vehicle” said one parent.

“I'm out of words,” said another. “I don't make much money, but if you have to raise my taxes (to keep from cutting programming), then do it.”

Several parents also again made the plea for the middle school soccer program to be dropped from the ax list.

The soccer program, which costs the district $24,000 per year, is on a short list of items to be given priority for restoration if possible, along with retaining the high schools' resource officers, at a cost of $140,000 and elimination of a potential activities fee for next year, at a cost of $50,000.

Another budget hearing is scheduled for May 25, and final approval of the 2011-12 budget is expected at a special board meeting on June 13.