Flexible Learning Day for Students
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Parent Workshop-Real Life, Real Talk. Sex Ed for Parents & Caregivers
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Budget Workshop Concentrating on Staffing
Budget Update
At the time of the town’s FY21 budget adoption, the district anticipated revenues from state aid ($6,149,279), miscellaneous income (medicaid reimbursements, tuitions, etc. estimated at $642,000), an appropriation from the fund balance ($600,000), and a town appropriation ($31,916,564) for a total of $39,307,843. Due to the pandemic, we had unanticipated needs (PPEs, cleaning supplies, tutors), unanticipated savings (nonpaid leaves), as well as unanticipated revenues (COVID-related grants). We also anticipated a 10% loss of state aid. We carefully monitored the budget and made adjustments so that we could eliminate the use of the fund balance and use that balance, instead, if our state aid was reduced.
In December, RI legislators approved a FY21 state aid for Smithfield at an amount of $6,227,712, including English Learners Categorical funding and Non-Public School Transportation, which we accounted for separately in our original, approved budget. This is only about $59,000 less than we had anticipated at the time of the town budget meeting and $24,000 more than our adjusted budget - a big surprise from the $600,000 loss that we had been figuring into our plans. Moreover, the governor’s requested FY22 aid for Smithfield, announced last month, is $7,269,104, a 16.7% increase from the FY21 state aid amount.
While the state aid may be adjusted several times before budget adoption and the state’s finances are dependent upon federal support and a timely resolution to the pandemic, we can approach the FY22 budget process with less trepidation than we had in the last 2 fiscal years. Strategy is also required, however, since our last large increase resulted in a larger decrease the following year.
If the requested state aid makes it through the General Assembly, we could eliminate our reliance on the fund balance, which is fiscally prudent, and still have a 1% increase in revenues, even with no additional town appropriation. Ideally, a moderate increase in this appropriation would serve our schools well, since the total budget for FY21 was less than that of FY20 and schools cannot maintain quality with insufficient budgetary increases.
Our budget process is reiterative; that is, there are at least 4 rounds of budget estimates, each round scrutinized by the central office, then our district and school administrators, and then our School Committee. Historically, the bottom line decreases by the final iteration, as we go from conservative estimates of healthcare and other rates to those that may be actual rates. The first round of our budget, what we refer to as a “projection,” assumes little change to staffing and other needs but provides for estimates of increases, such as an 8% increase in health care and 3% increase in purchased services, 0% increase in supplies, and utilities increases that are estimated on various websites. The bottom line of the projection showed a 3.6% increase from the FY21 adjusted budget.
Next, principals complete budget requests and staffing is analyzed further. The district administrators meet with principals individually and adjustments are made, as needed. The draft budget is then reviewed by the School Committee at 2 budget workshops and adjustments are made yet again. By the time the budget is reviewed by the Town Council, the bottom line has been revised at least 3 times and the needs of the district are better understood.
Please consider participating in the budget process by attending budget workshops, tentatively scheduled as follows:
February 1, 2021, 5:30 pm - Budget Workshop Concentrating on Staffing
February 22, 2021, 5:30 pm - Budget Workshop - Non-staffing needs/draft budget
This year’s budget timeline may change as the town rolls in a new process resulting from charter revisions approved by the voters in November.
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
PTA Meeting
Fifth Grade Committee Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Winter Recess - No School Students & Staff
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Winter Recess - No School Students & Staff
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Winter Recess - No School Students & Staff
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Winter Recess - No School Students & Staff
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Winter Recess - No School Students & Staff
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Virtual Friends join our Daily Morning Meeting
Budget Workshop - Non-staffing needs/draft budget
Budget Update
At the time of the town’s FY21 budget adoption, the district anticipated revenues from state aid ($6,149,279), miscellaneous income (medicaid reimbursements, tuitions, etc. estimated at $642,000), an appropriation from the fund balance ($600,000), and a town appropriation ($31,916,564) for a total of $39,307,843. Due to the pandemic, we had unanticipated needs (PPEs, cleaning supplies, tutors), unanticipated savings (nonpaid leaves), as well as unanticipated revenues (COVID-related grants). We also anticipated a 10% loss of state aid. We carefully monitored the budget and made adjustments so that we could eliminate the use of the fund balance and use that balance, instead, if our state aid was reduced.
In December, RI legislators approved a FY21 state aid for Smithfield at an amount of $6,227,712, including English Learners Categorical funding and Non-Public School Transportation, which we accounted for separately in our original, approved budget. This is only about $59,000 less than we had anticipated at the time of the town budget meeting and $24,000 more than our adjusted budget - a big surprise from the $600,000 loss that we had been figuring into our plans. Moreover, the governor’s requested FY22 aid for Smithfield, announced last month, is $7,269,104, a 16.7% increase from the FY21 state aid amount.
While the state aid may be adjusted several times before budget adoption and the state’s finances are dependent upon federal support and a timely resolution to the pandemic, we can approach the FY22 budget process with less trepidation than we had in the last 2 fiscal years. Strategy is also required, however, since our last large increase resulted in a larger decrease the following year.
If the requested state aid makes it through the General Assembly, we could eliminate our reliance on the fund balance, which is fiscally prudent, and still have a 1% increase in revenues, even with no additional town appropriation. Ideally, a moderate increase in this appropriation would serve our schools well, since the total budget for FY21 was less than that of FY20 and schools cannot maintain quality with insufficient budgetary increases.
Our budget process is reiterative; that is, there are at least 4 rounds of budget estimates, each round scrutinized by the central office, then our district and school administrators, and then our School Committee. Historically, the bottom line decreases by the final iteration, as we go from conservative estimates of healthcare and other rates to those that may be actual rates. The first round of our budget, what we refer to as a “projection,” assumes little change to staffing and other needs but provides for estimates of increases, such as an 8% increase in health care and 3% increase in purchased services, 0% increase in supplies, and utilities increases that are estimated on various websites. The bottom line of the projection showed a 3.6% increase from the FY21 adjusted budget.
Next, principals complete budget requests and staffing is analyzed further. The district administrators meet with principals individually and adjustments are made, as needed. The draft budget is then reviewed by the School Committee at 2 budget workshops and adjustments are made yet again. By the time the budget is reviewed by the Town Council, the bottom line has been revised at least 3 times and the needs of the district are better understood.
Please consider participating in the budget process by attending budget workshops, tentatively scheduled as follows:
January 25, 2021, 5:30 pm - Budget Workshop Concentrating on Staffing
February 22, 2021, 5:30 pm - Budget Workshop - Non-staffing needs/draft budget
This year’s budget timeline may change as the town rolls in a new process resulting from charter revisions approved by the voters in November.