Southern Berkshire RSD sees slight increase in budget

SHEFFIELD – At an increase of $190,828, or 1.32 percent, over fiscal year 2013, the Southern Berkshire Regional School District has presented a FY ’14 budget of $14,634,807.
From that number, a total of $11,723,711 will be assessed to the district’s five member towns. Alford is expected to pay $395,353; Egremont, $1,383,733; Monterey, $1,277,291; New Marlborough, $2,402,525; and Sheffield, $6,265,810.
As in the Central Berkshire Regional School District, the Southern Berkshire budget hearing was met with some concern by town residents concerned about the amount of the town assessments, especially in Monterey, which is seeing an 11.64 percent increase ($133,211) in its contribution from FY ‘13.
These town assessments are determined by enrollment and a minimum contribution figure determined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“In my opinion, this will be the last year of the wild fluctuations,” said SBRSD Business Administrator Bruce Turner, indicating the assessment numbers won’t see such dramatic increases and decreases in coming years.
The remaining portion of the budget (approximately $2.9 million) will come from other revenue sources, such as Chapter 70 funding and interest income.
The SBRSD will more fully discuss the FY ’14 budget at its March 14 meeting at the Mount Everett Regional High School library at 6 p.m.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on March 7, 2013. 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