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ConVal board unveils $60.73 million proposed operating budget, adds $668,000 in capital projects
Summary
The Contoocook Valley School District presented a $60,730,834 operating budget (1.43% increase) that includes the second year of a bargaining agreement, $668,000 in capital improvements and four trust-fund articles totaling $975,000 to be paid from fund balance, not new taxes.
Neil presented the Contoocook Valley School District’s proposed operating budget of $60,730,834, saying the figure represents an increase of $857,003.86, or 1.43%, and includes the second year of the district’s collective-bargaining agreement. "So our operating proposed operating budget is 60,730,834," Neil said.
The administration told the board that salaries and benefits comprise just over 75% of the budget. Staffing costs are expected to rise by about $986,000 because of contract obligations and the addition of a technology integrator for elementary schools, intended to coordinate classroom technology across the district’s eight elementary buildings. Neil said health-care costs increased but plan design changes, including a higher-deductible option, reduced the net rise and produced roughly $100,000 in savings.
The budget also includes $668,000 in capital-improvement projects: replacement boilers at Greenfield Elementary and Hancock Elementary and roofing work at Peterborough Elementary School. Neil said the district’s capital goal is to allocate about 1.5% of the total budget toward capital expenditures and added those three projects to the operating plan.
Administration proposed four trust-fund warrant articles totaling $975,000 to be funded from the unreserved fund balance at year end: a $500,000 building capital reserve, a $25,000 energy expendable, a $25,000 equipment expendable trust, and an additional $425,000 building item. Neil said the trust-fund articles would be paid from available surplus and would not require additional taxation.
Officials explained the default budget is last year’s budget plus contractual and legal obligations with one-time expenses removed; the default is roughly 1.25% below the proposed budget. The board was told adequacy-aid estimates are down about $268,000, and that operating revenues are projected to rise about 4.82%.
The administration reviewed next steps and schedule: the deliberative session is scheduled for Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the high-school gym, and town-level voting will occur on March 10. The board closed the public budget hearing after roughly a half hour and continued regular business.
The board did not take a final vote on the full operating warrant at this meeting; this presentation and the accompanying default calculation were presented as part of the public-hearing record ahead of the deliberative session and the final warrant preparation.
