Budget slashed by $800,000, more cuts coming

BY MATT HERSH

After weeks of discussion, Salem school officials have cut next year’s estimated budget by more than $800,000 and more cuts are expected.

Superintendent Michael Delahanty said the original proposed budget was $47.3 million, but it was reduced to $46.5 million after being reviewed by the school board.

As it is now, the estimated budget is 2.1 percent higher than last year’s $45.4 million budget.
Delahanty said the board will continue to discuss the budget and possibly make further cuts. 

Still, he said he isn’t sure what else can be cut because most increases are mandatory.

Among these increases are the rising rates for unemployment and workers compensation which have jumped more than 36 percent rather than the usual 12 percent, Delahanty said.

More than $700,000 in mandatory special education costs involving out-of-district placement for severely disabled students have also heavily contributed to the increase.

Delahanty said these increases are necessary, but there may still be room for a few more cuts.
“I think it’s a fine budget,” he said.  “But we’ll go back over it again.”

School board Chairman Bernard Campbell said at a Tuesday, Nov. 14, meeting that additional cuts may come from staff development.

Campbell said he’s uncomfortable with increases in both the superintendent fund and substitute teacher training.  He said he’d like to see one reduced.

“Pick where you need most of it,” he said.

Campbell said he’ll be focusing primarily on lowering items with significant percentage increases before presenting the budget to the budget committee.

Since the beginning of November, the board has been able to cut costs in a variety of areas.

A plan to replace lockers at Woodbury School has been sectionalized, with some being fixed this year and the rest in the next two years.

Also, eighth-grade students will not get new math books, and old books at Salem High School will not be replaced this year, Delahanty said.

Combined, these small cuts have reduced the budget by more than $300,000.

Budget committee Chairman Peter Rayno said he hopes the district comes to him with a tight budget similar to this year’s town budget.

The school board will meet again on Nov. 21 to make further cuts and approve a budget to be submitted to the budget committee.