Original Budget

Note: These are the details of the original budget that failed to pass on 5/17. For details on the newly proposed budget, please click here: Re-Vote Budget Details

In such a challenging budget year, it's imperative that all stakeholders - parents, community members, staff and students - are completely aware of the issues as well as the proposed solutions. While all of this information is available on the district website in great detail (www.bcsdny.org), we would like to address a few of the major questions below

FAQ #1: Why is everyone talking about this year's budget?

Simply put, because there was an estimated budget "gap" this year of almost $9 million. A budget gap is the difference between the district's expected revenues (money in) and their expected expenditures (money out). Previous years have also had budget gaps, but never as large as this year. (Curious on why that is and where that money is going? Check out Financials.)

FAQ #2: What is the 2016-2017 proposed budget?

The proposed budget is in the images to the right. In creating the budget for next year, a mixture of expenditure reductions (yes, those are cuts) and revenue increases will need to be utilized to create a balanced budget. The Board of Education has finalized their budget, which will be presented to the voters on Tuesday, May 17th. The proposed budget includes a tax levy increase of 3.82%, which exceeds the state's tax levy cap of 1.32% and must therefore be approved by a 60% super majority vote. (Confused by the tax levy cap? Try this - Tax Levy Cap)

FAQ #3: CUTS??? What cuts???

This budget includes almost $4 million in cuts in order to balance the budget. More details on the reductions, including the final recommendations of the Board, can be found here - Reductions

FAQ #4: What happens if the budget is not approved by a 60% super majority?

If the proposed budget is not approved by the 60% super majority necessary on May 17th, the Board of Education has 2 choices - they can present the voters with another budget on which to vote, or they can decide to immediately go to a contingent budget. While not impossible, it would be surprising if they chose to go directly to a contingent budget - more likely, they would choose to go for another vote. They would then have the choice of submitting the exact same proposed budget (still requiring a 60% super majority) or an edited budget (which might or might not still exceed the tax levy cap). To stay within the tax levy cap, they would need to find almost $3 million in additional cuts - if they had to go to contingency, it would be over $4.3 million in additional cuts. (Both seen in the image to the right.) In either case, these cuts would be in addition to the almost $4 million in reductions that have already been put forth in the proposed budget. (Looking for more information regarding these cuts? Here you go -Contingency)

(to enlarge, simply click the image)