BEVERLY — Beverly is holding off on making cuts to address what could be nearly a $1 million shortfall in next year's $44.9 million school budget.
Superintendent James Hayes estimates the shortfall at $931,881 for now, but said that could change depending on the amount of funding from the state.
"It's a little frustrating not having the hard numbers," School Committee President Annemarie Cesa said.
So instead of chopping the budget now, they're waiting for word from Gov. Deval Patrick's office. Cesa didn't mention the specific cuts on the table because "we don't want to panic people," she said.
However, whatever is proposed will likely be minor compared to last year's decision to turn McKeown Elementary School into an alternative secondary school.
"Something catastrophic has not been discussed," Cesa said. "We've been very clear we're not going to close a school."
She said the district will look into ways to save money on a smaller scale, like consolidating classes and not filling retirees' positions.
"We would like to do everything in our power not to lay people off," she said.
There's also the hope that there may be a surplus at the end of the year. It's mostly because oil was budgeted at last year's $4 per gallon rate, so there may be a savings, Hayes said.
The $932,000 shortfall is based on Hayes' prediction that Chapter 70 aid from the state will be level-funded.
The estimate factors in an additional $400,000 in rent the district will get for the North Shore Education Consortium's use of the McKeown School. Also on the plus side is $366,000 in federal stimulus funding, which is the amount that can be used to offset the budget this year. The majority of the $2 million Beverly schools will receive must be used for creating new programs, Hayes said.
Yet adding to the shortfall is the loss of $500,000 that the city will no longer contribute to the school district. The money was from an increase in annual taxes being paid by the Cummings Center after its tax break expired in 2006. As planned, the money will now go toward paying for the new high school.
"At the time, the mayor made it very clear this was a temporary resource for us," Hayes said.
Budget 2010
Overview
Total costs: $44.9 million
Total revenue: $44 million
Shortfall: $931,881
What we know:
$500,000 reduction in city contribution from Cummings Center taxes, which will now help pay for the new high school.
$366,000 to offset budget from the federal stimulus package
$400,000 more revenue from Consortium rent
Waiting on:
Chapter 70 funding from the state
Possible funding from state stabilization funds
Possible surplus this year that could carry over
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