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Orange-Ulster BOCES presents 2.95% administrative budget increase and program data to Middletown board
Summary
Orange-Ulster BOCES staff briefed the board on the BOCES administrative budget (2.95% increase), retiree health-insurance costs and Middletown student participation in career and technical education; district trustees were urged to attend a March meeting and the April 24 county vote on BOCES board members.
Representatives from Orange-Ulster BOCES presented the BOCES administrative budget and program data to the Middletown Board of Education on March 20, describing a proposed 2.95% increase in the administrative component and outlining district-specific participation in career and technical education.
Deborah Hapis, the Orange-Ulster presenter, said roughly 68% of the administrative budget covers retiree health insurance, an obligation that must be reported in the administrative component by state accounting rules. She described the administrative increase as modest and highlighted that the administrative budget houses retiree benefits required by collective bargaining agreements.
Hapis and other BOCES representatives also provided Middletown-specific materials showing five-year program enrollment history for career and technical education (CTE) and special-education services. The presenters said 4,701 Middletown students attend Orange-Ulster BOCES programs (figure provided in the presentation materials). They described efforts to align enrollment demand and facility planning, including waitlists for popular CTE programs and plans to add space where needed.
The presentation noted logistical cooperation between Orange-Ulster BOCES and Middletown for summer programming while BOCES completes capital work at its Gibson Road campus. BOCES representatives also urged district officials and the public to attend a budget dinner and noted that Orange-Ulster BOCES board member elections will be held April 24; William Boss, David Eaton and Ed Estrada were listed as names with expiring terms.
Discussion and context Board members asked for clarification about retiree-health cost sharing and BOCES replies described a sliding scale in collective bargaining agreements rather than a flat percentage for all retirees. Middletown trustees and BOCES staff discussed partnerships on summer programming and space-sharing while capital work continues at BOCES facilities.
Ending: BOCES materials (administrative budget, district enrollment sheets and Engage CTE registration information) were left with the Middletown board and posted to BOCES materials; the board did not vote on BOCES budgets in this session but was invited to upcoming meetings and the district- and county-level April 24 BOCES board election.
