The budget calls for a $2 million increase in spending from the previous year.
CHICOPEE – The School Committee approved a $75.3 million budget for the next year, which members defined as tight but did not require them to cut staff or programs.
The committee voted 10-0 Wednesday to accept the budget for fiscal year 2012, which begins July 1. It still must be adopted by the City Council, but that vote is a formality since the body cannot add or move money around. It is also tied to the state requirement that says they cannot spend less than the budget the committee adopted.
The committee and school administrators have spent months crafting the spending plan, which calls for an increase of almost $2 million from the previous year.
“This was probably one of the most difficult budgets I have worked on,” said Michael J. Pise, a School Committee member for about 20 years. “I don’t believe we are going to save any money for next year.”
The schools received $53.6 million in state assistance this year and city tax money will add another $26.6 million. The school budgets also received grants and about $1.1 million in School Choice revenues. However, it also had to pay back the city about $13.8 million for services it provides such as telephone, administrative services and unemployment and medical insurance.
The about $2 million increase in state assistance was offset by an about $2 million reduction in federal stimulus money. To prevent having to make cuts to staff or programs, the School Committee used about $1.5 million in its reserve account to bolster the budget.
Chicopee’s spending on schools will be no higher than the minimum required by the state. The City Council is not being asked to exceed the requirement and Committee member Donald J. Lamothe said he appreciated that the council has allowed the schools to set aside money not used rather than requiring it to be returned to the city’s coffers.
Members had few complaints about the spending proposals. Member Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello asked if any programs had been eliminated because they were not working.
“We downsized some so we could reallocate money to programs that we thought were more promising,” Rege said. “One of the programs we worry about is summer school, and we are expanding it this year.”
Member Adam D. Lamontagne said there is funding to continue drop-out prevention programs, which he said is important to students’ successes.
“I’m happy we are putting a huge focus on math,” Pise said.
Math scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams have lagged behind English, and an audit of the school system showed math instruction needs to be improved.