Lenox Public Schools start budget prep

LENOX – In an attempt to get an early jump on the budget process not only for fiscal year 2014, but in years to come, Finance Committee Chairwoman Lucy D. Kennedy gave a presentation to the Lenox School Committee.

“The finance committee was asked…to take a look at a 10-year plan,” Ms. Kennedy said.

The research for putting together options for a 10-year plan involved looking at long-term needs, population growth and recurring revenues and expenses.

Ms. Kennedy’s presentation provided a number of possibilities for the town, with nothing yet set in stone.

In an effort to keep the budget balanced over the next 10 years, she suggested a reduction of $750,000 in expenses by 2017. Possible ways to achieve this include regionalization of fire, safety, department of public works, water, sewer and school costs, including an effort to seek out more shared services with neighboring communities.

Town capital expenses

From 2013-2023, the entire town has a projected $107 million in capital expenses ($2.1 million for the schools), but the finance committee’s research suggests only $72.7 million in capital expenses is feasible for the town’s budget.

“I can’t come up with a scenario where we can support $107 million,” Ms. Kennedy said.

Following her presentation, school committee members emphasized it was not a final plan for the town’s next 10 years.

“This is not the answer – this is to develop and provoke the thought process of the town departments,” School Committee Chairman Don W. Fitzgerald said. “This isn’t something we’re going to look at only one time.”

“We’re trying to get earlier in the [budget] process,” Ms. Kennedy added.

School budget timeline

Lenox Superintendent Edward W. Costa II also presented a school budget timeline to the committee, which stretches from Nov. 6 to Town Meeting in May. The budget book will be assembled over Christmas break, and public budget presentations are expected to start in January.

“These are our targets as we move forward,” he said.

Next meeting cancelled

The Nov. 19 Lenox School Committee meeting has been cancelled. The committee will next meet at town hall at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on November 8, 2012. Filed under Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry