BTSD Superintendent: Budget 'Preliminary' And 'Worst Case'

The Bristol Township School District will hold a special budget meeting Thursday to discuss the budget shortfall affecting its schools.

On Wednesday, BTSD Superintendent Dr. Samuel Lee released the following letter to parents and guardians in the district.

Monday night at a public meeting the school district disclosed a preliminary 2011-2012 school district budget. This “worst case” budget is required by law. It is not a final budget, but a budget based on what little information we have to date.

The little we know includes a $4.2 million reduction in state spending for Bristol Township, and a significant decline in local tax revenues due to these difficult economic times. This adds up to a $10 million shortfall between what we have to spend and what we need to spend next year.

There are a number of ways we see to reduce this budget gap. We have asked our employees for a wage freeze, and they are considering our request. We have some leeway in reducing other costs. We can also request up to a 1.8% tax increase. There may be more money forthcoming from the state.

This first “preliminary” budget requires that we show the state what our school year would look like if none of these budget assumptions happen. This is a grim picture indeed.  This preliminary budget reflects no kindergarten, no AP classes at our high school, and many other terrible changes that we really do not want to make.

We are hopeful that some of our budget assumptions will bear fruit, and that there will be more money forthcoming from the state. This may make it possible for us to keep kindergarten, AP classes, and special area programming in our schools.

We have until June 30th to submit a final budget.  Our school board and our administrators will be working day and night to find solutions to our shortfall well before then.

We ask you to have patience and stay tuned as we continue our work.  There will be another budget meeting Thursday, May 12, in the board room. You are invited to join us.

Sincerely,
Samuel Lee