In anticipation of the BUHS District #6 Annual Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11 in the high school gymnasium, the BUHS District #6 Annual Reports are available at all WSESU schools, Superintendent’s Office, Brooks Memorial Library, District Town Offices (Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, Vernon), and www.wssu.k12.vt.us.
A Public Forum to discuss the proposed FY ’15 budget will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, 2/3/14 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.
BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wssu.k12.vt.us
From the Annual Report
Brattleboro Union High School District #6 FY ‘14 2013-2014 Budget Questions & Answers
Why is there an increase in the Proposed Operating Budget of 2.37%?
The total operating budget increase of $580,607 is due to the fact that the district has funded negotiated contracts as well as associated benefits for FY2014. The allowance for health costs equates to a 14% increase over the actual rates for FY2013.
In addition, there have been increases for building maintenance as well as planned building maintenance and insurance for liability, property, and worker’s compensation. The school has offered early retirement incentives for the certified (licensed) staff for the past three years in order to reduce expenses.
What is the total debt service (principal and interest payments) relating to the Construction Project for FY2013?
The total of the bond principal and interest payments equals $2,320,320. This is a decrease of $58,160 from FY2014 due to the declining principal balance. The principal and interest payment for the new track declines by $4,250 during FY2014.
Are there any additional articles that request additional funding?
No, not new appropriations, but the district is requesting approval to establish a Capital Improvement Fund which, if approved, will also have a request to deposit $150,000 of the undesignated and unreserved fund balance from the year ended June 30, 2012 into newly established reserve.
Are there any other articles to be voted on?
Yes, there is one additional article to be acted on. The request is for approval to use $1,000,000 of the unreserved undesignated fund balance to defray expenses for FY2014 (2013-2014).
How does this proposed budget impact on taxes for our member districts?
Per Act 130, which was enacted to change the funding for union schools, there are no longer assessment payments remitted to the High School District. The member district towns now remit taxes directly to the Brattleboro Union High School District #6.
Please refer to the Estimated Tax Projections town tax estimates for FY2014 (2013-2014):
The tax projections are preliminary and are only estimates. Any changes in the proposed rates due to changes from the Department of Education and the Department of Taxes will create revisions which shall be distributed at the annual meeting or as soon as changes are made. As of this time the estimated projected education residential base tax rate is projected to be $0.91. The estimated tax impacts for each member district for a home valued at $200,000 are as follows:
B.U.H.S. #6 Projected Residential Tax Rates for FY2014
Preliminary Estimates only.
BRATTLEBORO
Preliminary Tax: $1.6320
Common Level of Appraisal estimates only: 100.720%
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2014: $0.8281
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2013: $0.7979
Tax Allocations for FY2014 – BUHS #6 : 50.74%
Change From FY2013 to FY2014 Residential Tax (estimated): $0.0302
**Estimated Impact $200,000 Home $60.35
DUMMERSTON
Preliminary Tax: $1.6592
Common Level of Appraisal estimates only: 99.070%
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2014: $0.4593
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2013: $0.4287
Tax Allocations for FY2014 – BUHS #6 : 27.68%
Change From FY2013 to FY2014 Residential Tax (estimated): $0.0306
**Estimated Impact $200,000 Home $61.13
GUILFORD
Preliminary Tax: $1.9339
Common Level of Appraisal estimates only: 85.000%
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2014: $0.7362
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2013: $0.7498
Tax Allocations for FY2014 – BUHS #6 : 38.07%
Change From FY2013 to FY2014 Residential Tax (estimated): -$0.0136
**Estimated Impact $200,000 Home-$27.13
PUTNEY
Preliminary Tax: $1.6616
Common Level of Appraisal estimates only: 98.930%
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2014: $0.5610
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2013: $0.6460
Tax Allocations for FY2014 – BUHS #6 : 33.76%
Change From FY2013 to FY2014 Residential Tax (estimated): -$0.0850
**Estimated Impact $200,000 Home-$170.09
VERNON
Preliminary Tax: $1.1089
Common Level of Appraisal estimates only: 111.180%
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2014: $0.4040
Projected Residential Tax Rate FY2013: $0.3990
Tax Allocations for FY2014 – BUHS #6 : 36.43%
Change From FY2013 to FY2014 Residential Tax (estimated): $0.0050
**Estimated Impact $200,000 Home $9.94
What is the status of the budget and Act 82?
Section 563(11) (B) of Title16 requires school budgets to be divided into two questions for voter approval if two conditions exist. The first condition is that for the current year, the school district education spending per equalized pupil exceeds the statewide average. The second condition is that education spending in the district’s proposed budget for the coming school year exceeds the current year spending, adjusted by an inflation index, plus one percent (2007, No. 82, §5).
The proposed budget does not exceed the current year spending as adjusted by the inflation index of 2.2% plus one percent, therefore the district is not required to have a second vote.