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The Board of Education of Harford County met in a special open business meeting on Monday, October 27, 2008 in the Board Room of the HCPS/A.A. Roberty Building. As a result of the County Executive’s request for a reduction in spending totaling $5.3 million due to insufficient revenue funds to cover expenditures in the County General Fund, the Superintendent reviewed the School System Budget with staff in order to compile a list of potential reductions that would have the least effect on students for the Board to discuss. The following budget items were presented to the Board for elimination by the HCPS Budget Office:

Recommendation #1: Permanent Salary Variances and Actual Turnover Savings Reduction Amount: $613,170 This salary adjustment realizes savings when an employee retires and the replacement receives less due to longevity adjustments otherwise known as turnover savings. Also, this adjustment does not impact or eliminate positions currently approved in the school system.

▪ Motion to reduce salary, wage and benefit accounts across all appropriate line items in the amount of $613,170 was approved (7-0).

Recommendation #2: Line Item Savings Reduction Amount: $744,969

This adjustment includes reductions to operating expenditures which includes copier rental charge overages; travel, conferences and meals for all staff; cellular phone usage (effecting the Central Office), contracted services (which included two studies that can be deferred until next year); administrative services, including recruitment and legal fees for the Office of Human Resources; miscellaneous equipment, which is an office equipment fund for emergency purposes ($250,000 remains in this account after the reduction); and maintenance of plant, which includes parking lots, hardware, laundry and equipment.

▪ Motion to reduce non salary budget line items in the amount of $744,969 across all appropriate line items was approved (7-0).

Recommendation #3: Bus Service Reduction Amount: $866,000

This adjustment includes reduction for fuel, based on a cooperative bid process for procuring fuel, a fee of $4.25 per gallon was budgeted – a locked-in price of $3.50 per gallon was secured through this bid process. The savings will be cut from the budget. Out-of-County placement runs will be consolidated by drivers returning back to Harford County together on one bus. In addition, no substitutes will be hired for garage, dispatcher, or driving instructors.

▪ Motion to reduce the transportation budget in the amount of $866,000 across all appropriate line items was approved (7-0).

Recommendation #4: Current Year Vacancy Savings, FTE Accounts Reduction Amount: $901,322

The adjustment for current year vacancies includes freezing current Full-time Employee (FTE) vacancies at the Central Office and using long-term substitutes for school-based positions. Savings includes salary and all benefits. Special education positions are not included in the hiring freeze.

• Motion to reduce salary and benefit line items related to the savings achieved from current year vacancies in the mount of $901,322 across all appropriate line items was approved (7-0).

Recommendation #5: Non FTE (Full Time Employee) Salary Account Reduction Amount: $810,605

The adjustment to non-FTE salary accounts includes the savings from a reduction of daily clerical substitutes, curriculum and professional development salaries along with a reduction in substitutes utilized, while instructional staff attends professional development. More than 75 percent of the professional development FY09 budget still remains.

• Motion to reduce non-FTE salary line items along with the associated benefit line items in the amount of $810,605 across all appropriate line items was approved (7-0).

Recommendation #6: Capital Budget Reduction Amount: $1,363,934

The adjustment to the Capital Improvement Program will eliminate PAYGO (pay-as-you-go funds that the County allocates for capital projects) funding for several projects including ADA improvements (no ADA projects were currently slated for this year – compliance not an issue); deferring paving projects; no new vehicles (includes mowers and grounds vehicles) to be purchased; FY09 allocation for the Milestone Project (white boards and LCD project for elementary schools); and, music refresh (no new instruments will be purchased).

• Motion to reduce the Capital Budget in the amount of $1,363,934 across all appropriate projects was approved (7-0).

With the approved reductions, $5.3 million in savings were realized through $3,936,066 in the Operating Budget and $1,363,934 in the Capital Budget. All reductions were considered to allow the least amount of impact on students and staff.

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