Looking through some older newspapers for information on bleacher replacement, I came across some interesting articles that might raise some eyebrows, at least in the context of how this school project is still in murky water (my opinion)
November 3, 2017, The Gardner News, page 1, the article states that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee voted to accept a bid from Fontaine Brothers for 32.5 million dollars for the new elementary school in Templeton. I thought this was a Town rather than a district project.
November 15, 2017 in The Gardner News, an article has Town approves $25,000.00 in inspection Fees for new school project. Templeton board of selectmen stated it is a Town project and Narragansett Regional School District cannot pay for these charges by statute. These are/will be Town expenses.
Okay, who is on first and I don't know is pitching. What exactly is being pitched seems to be a wild guess. Right up there with a secretary in the selectmen's office rather than the Town Treasurer processing bills/invoices for the elementary school. Seem to recall this concern being brought up before and a repy was the Treasurer was going to get trained and handle this. Oh wait, I do not think that particular Treasurer is with the Town any longer. Did Templeton hire and experienced/certified Treasurer/Collector the next time around? No, they did not. They are right to suspect an override will not pass.
Now about them bleachers.
Monday, March 5, 2018
from the Narragansett budget presentation for fiscal year 2017;
Executive Summary:
At Narragansett, we are committed to providing our students with the highest quality education that we can. The proposed FY 17 Genera Fund budget of $19,458,752.00 reflects an increase of 2.42%. The revenue to fund this budget is made up of chapter 70 state aid, local assessments from our member towns, revolving funds and $255,000.00 from excess & deficiency.
from the Narragansett budget presentation for fiscal year 2018;
Executive Summary:
At Narragansett, we are committed to providing our students with the highest quality education that we can. The proposed FY 18 Genera Fund budget of $20,015,181.00 reflects an increase of 2.72%. The revenue to fund this budget is made up of chapter 70 state aid, local assessments from our member towns, revolving funds and $415,000.00 from excess & deficiency.
Also from the FY 2018 budget presentation;
This year, in developing the FY 2018 budget, we started with a $848,439.00 shortfall. The budget sub committee looked at all of the budget requests very closely and asked that a level service budget be presented. The level service budget was prepared and still presented a $518,974.00 shortfall of expenses over income. The superintendent was asked to reduce the proposed budget by $289,469.00. This task resulted in the loss of five positions: digital literacy teacher, horticulture teacher, guidance counselor, health teacher and media center paraprofessional, as well as a realignment of a math tutor, math coach, preschool paraprofessional, custodian and our automated notification system. After reducing the budget by the above positions, there was still a shortfall of $229,505.00 that the budget sub committee voted to ask for from the towns. On March 29, 2017, the Narragansett Regional School Committee voted to certify the district's budget at $20,015,181.00, which includes the shortfall of $229,505.00.
On a side note, when I was in school, math help or any other subject, usually consisted of a teacher staying after school and help any student who showed up, as in, all for the kids. The only coaches I am aware of were sports coaches. I do know, times change, but perhaps it is time to take a hard look at how we do business today.
I may be in the minority here and it kind of goes against my financial conservatism, but just like back in the summer of 2013, I still think for long term stability, a one million dollar override should have been asked for back then and that is still the case today. There also needs (as in must) be a hard look at how things are done in Templeton. What other services can be bid out or done in a different approach to benefit the Town financially. Would it devastate the Town to at least look at bidding for a private company to provide ambulance service to Templeton and perhaps provide a positive cash flow to the Town, while having ambulance service to the Town. Would there be a financial benefit in doing so? Would it hurt to ask the question?
Executive Summary:
At Narragansett, we are committed to providing our students with the highest quality education that we can. The proposed FY 17 Genera Fund budget of $19,458,752.00 reflects an increase of 2.42%. The revenue to fund this budget is made up of chapter 70 state aid, local assessments from our member towns, revolving funds and $255,000.00 from excess & deficiency.
from the Narragansett budget presentation for fiscal year 2018;
Executive Summary:
At Narragansett, we are committed to providing our students with the highest quality education that we can. The proposed FY 18 Genera Fund budget of $20,015,181.00 reflects an increase of 2.72%. The revenue to fund this budget is made up of chapter 70 state aid, local assessments from our member towns, revolving funds and $415,000.00 from excess & deficiency.
Also from the FY 2018 budget presentation;
This year, in developing the FY 2018 budget, we started with a $848,439.00 shortfall. The budget sub committee looked at all of the budget requests very closely and asked that a level service budget be presented. The level service budget was prepared and still presented a $518,974.00 shortfall of expenses over income. The superintendent was asked to reduce the proposed budget by $289,469.00. This task resulted in the loss of five positions: digital literacy teacher, horticulture teacher, guidance counselor, health teacher and media center paraprofessional, as well as a realignment of a math tutor, math coach, preschool paraprofessional, custodian and our automated notification system. After reducing the budget by the above positions, there was still a shortfall of $229,505.00 that the budget sub committee voted to ask for from the towns. On March 29, 2017, the Narragansett Regional School Committee voted to certify the district's budget at $20,015,181.00, which includes the shortfall of $229,505.00.
On a side note, when I was in school, math help or any other subject, usually consisted of a teacher staying after school and help any student who showed up, as in, all for the kids. The only coaches I am aware of were sports coaches. I do know, times change, but perhaps it is time to take a hard look at how we do business today.
I may be in the minority here and it kind of goes against my financial conservatism, but just like back in the summer of 2013, I still think for long term stability, a one million dollar override should have been asked for back then and that is still the case today. There also needs (as in must) be a hard look at how things are done in Templeton. What other services can be bid out or done in a different approach to benefit the Town financially. Would it devastate the Town to at least look at bidding for a private company to provide ambulance service to Templeton and perhaps provide a positive cash flow to the Town, while having ambulance service to the Town. Would there be a financial benefit in doing so? Would it hurt to ask the question?
No questions; just the facts.
41.06: Excess and Deficiency Funds
(1) Every regional school district shall maintain an excess and deficiency fund on its books of account. At the end of every fiscal year, any surplus or deficit in the district's general fund shall be closed to the excess and deficiency fund.
(2) On or before October 31 of each year, every regional school district shall submit to the Department of Revenue the forms and schedules as the Department of Revenue requires for the purpose of reviewing and certifying the balance in the regional school district's excess and deficiency fund. At the discretion of the Commissioner, the Department may withhold release of all or some part of the quarterly state school aid for the regional school district if the regional school district has not filed the required forms and schedules by such date.
(3) A regional school committee may use all or part of the certified balance in the excess and deficiency fund as a revenue source for its proposed budget. If the certified balance exceeds five percent of the proposed budget, the regional school committee shall use the amount in excess of five percent as a revenue source for its proposed budget.
Narragansett Regional School District
Excess and Deficiency calculation - listed as fiscal year 2016 on DLS gateway
Submitted by Ann Marie Geyster with the DOR field rep being Deb Wagner
form states date received 12/10/2015
submission complete on 03/07/2016
Unreserved fund balance/excess and deficiency - $339,200.00
Less: other receivable, overdrawn accounts, deficits
Title I grant 2,985.00
Phillipston Police Scholarship 69.00
Cash Variance 300.00
Total certified unencumbered excess and deficiency $335,846.00
Excess and Deficiency calculation - listed as fiscal year 2017 on DLS gateway
Submitted by Ann Marie Geyster with DOR field rep being Matt Andre
form states received 12/23/2016
submission complete on 01/04/2017
Unreserved fund balance/excess and deficiency - $469,233.00
Less: other receivable, overdrawn accounts, deficits
Kindergarten revolving 106.00
Charpentier fund 46.00
Cash variance 1,074.00
Total certified unencumbered excess and deficiency $468,007.00
Excess and Deficiency calculation - listed as fiscal year 2018 on DLS gateway
Submitted by Ann Marie Geyster with DOR field rep being Matt Andre
form states received 12/19/2017
submission complete on 01/08/2018
Unreserved fund balance/excess and deficiency - $404,154.00
Less: other receivable, overdrawn accounts, deficits
Kindergarten revolving 106.00
Capital project BioMass boiler 9,316.00
FY 16 Preschool grant 3,284.00
FY 17 Title I grant 1,242.00
Cash Variance 380.00
Total certified unencumbered excess and deficiency $389,826.00
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)