In first draft, Sharon Center budget up 6.89%

SHARON — The first draft of the proposed 2012-13 Sharon Board of Education budget was discussed at the regular board meeting on Feb. 13.The total proposed budget was $6,256,753, which is $17,964 less than the $6,274,717 2011-2012 budgeted amount. However, the new document also estimated that actual 2011-2012 expenditures will end up at $6,181,341. If that turns out to be a realistic estimate of current year expenditures, the proposed budget for next year would represent an increase of $75,412.The total budget includes estimated costs for Sharon Center School; the Region One School District including Housatonic Valley Regional High School; and the regional Central Office and Pupil Services (including special education). The proposed Sharon Center budget in this draft is $3,940,578, up 6.89 percent from the 2011-12 budget of $3,686,636.There was discussion of potential saving by moving employees from the current health insurance plan to a new high deductible plan and giving them a 2 percent raise to offset their higher out-of-pocket deductibles.The budget for technology support services would increase by 58.78 percent from $12,420 to $19,720. This is due to the increasing use of new technology by staff and students.Also proposed in the budget is an increase of $23,126 for technology equipment, including new desktop and laptop computers and printers. The proposed amount is $59,576, up from the estimate in the current budget of $36,450.One of the larger proposed budget increases is for building repairs. For the new fiscal year (which begins July 1) that budget line would increase by $95,447 to $129,730, a 278.41 percent growth from $34,283. The proposed 2012-13 building repairs are: service contracts, $27,084; air duct cleaning, $22,870; air handling balancing, $25,000; new lockers, $27,276; carpentry in the main hallway, $11,500; carpentry in the lower hallway, $8,000, and a new fire alarm panel, $8,000.The current fire alarm panel needs frequent repair and is so old that replacements parts are no longer available and have to be handmade.Many systems in the Sharon Center School building seem to be nearing the end of their projected useful lives. The proposed budget recommends putting aside $50,000 annually in a capital expense fund to accumulate until systems fail and need to be replaced.There will be a budget workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 6 p.m. at the school. Taxpayers are encouraged to attend.