In a show of its continued commitment to conservative cost containment, the Blackstone Valley Tech Vocational Regional District School Committee has approved its budget request for Fiscal Year 2015.
The unanimous vote of approval occurred in Thursday’s meeting and marked the culmination of months of review and prioritization by educators and School Committee members dedicated to providing cost-effective, quality services for many of the youth in the Blackstone Valley. Working with Governor Deval Patrick’s proposed budget and an anticipated reduction in state aid, the Budget Subcommittee began with a zero-based budget and incorporated necessary expenditure increases to maintain current levels of service. Through the application of $250,000 in available reserve funds and the planned pursuit of grants, gifts, and additional revenue sources, the operational budget of $20,970,532 represents an expenditure increase of 2.5%.
As in years past, the proposed budget is the sole funding request that Valley Tech will make of its member communities for Fiscal Year 2015.
“The District maintains its commitment to a single, consolidated annual request to facilitate vital fiscal management and planning by our 13 member-towns in this period of fiscal austerity,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. “Valley Tech once again pledges to operate within the dollars requested regardless of any unforeseen variables within anticipated revenue streams.”
With the exception of special debt or an occasional capital improvement initiative, Valley Tech includes in its single budget request: workers’ compensation, health and other insurance, unemployment, snow removal, federal and state revenue shortfalls, central office, bookkeeping, treasurer, legal, audit, and other expenses. Special Education and Student Assessment costs are also included within the annual budget. Valley Tech staff and students are able to undertake much of the maintenance of the building along with monitoring the facility’s complex ventilation and heating system, saving thousands of dollars in outside labor costs.
Along with its cost containment blueprint, the School Committee’s budget request includes notification of the District’s intent to make a request in mid-April for approval of a debt restructuring plan designed to expand Valley Tech’s vocational technical programming. If approved, the $2.9 million project will allow Valley Tech to establish three new programs in Veterinary Assisting, Engineering, and Legal and Protective Services. The proposed debt action is scheduled to be acted upon during the April 17th School Committee agenda. The District will share advance specifics of its plan throughout the next few months.
UPTON DAILY 