FY25 PROPOSED DRAFT BUDGET

FEBRUARY 2024

Berkshire Hills Regional School District

Mission

To ensure all students are challenged through a wide range of experiences to become engaged, curious learners and problem solvers who effectively communicate, respect diversity, and improve themselves and their community.

Budget Priorities

• Continue to provide high quality education for all students.

​

• Continue to provide a range of social-emotional supports.

• Ensure equitable access for all students.

​

FY25

​

Proposed Budget

FY 25

BUDGET CHANGES

PERSONNEL

1. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

​

• Reallocate existing resources to meet changing enrollment, as needed.

• Reduce Kindergarten to three sections.

• In-depth Professional Development in Math.

​

PERSONNEL

1. MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Continued four core teams and specials.

• Continued professional development for SEL.

​

• Potential reallocation of 1.0 FTE to ES.

​

PERSONNEL

1. HIGH SCHOOL

​

• Continued review and planning for additional CVTE programming and staffing.

​

• Reduce math staffing by .5 FTE.

• Reduce Social Studies by 1.0 FTE.

​

• Additional 1.0 FTE reduction.

PERSONNEL

1. DISTRICTWIDE

​

• Potential elimination of DEIB position.

​

• Potential reallocation of responsibilities to consultants.

• Based on School Committee feedback – position elimination and/or reallocation later withdrawn.

​

• Recommended to be funded through grants.

OTHER

• Health & Dental Insurance
• 5.39% total increase for health in FY25 ($301,760).
• BHG rates set at 7% set; actual change compensates for changes in enrollment.
• No premium holiday approved for FY24.
• No change in dental rates.

OTHER

• Health & Dental Insurance (cont.)
• MEDEX rate changes in January of each year; 5.5% increase for 2024.
• Berkshire County Retirement
• Actual invoice amount to fully fund system, 4.07% ($41,836).

OTHER

• Educational Services & Tuition
• Decrease of 2.15% (-$42,500).
• Transportation
• Increase of 11.04% ($293,826).
• Out-of-District Transportation increased.

OTHER

• Technology
• Increase of 30.45% ($105,500).
• Software & refresh of devices.
• Facilities & Operations
• Slight increase of 1.84% ($12,050).

OTHER

• Utilities
• Increase of 2.24% ($21,920).
• Educ. Supplies, Materials & Equip
• Increase of 4.05% ($16,350).
• Prof. Development
• Decrease of 0.77% (-$1,050).

OTHER

• Legal & Other insurances
• Decrease of 2.31% (-$3,870)
• Other Administrative Costs
• Increase of 1.06% ($4,000).

OPERATING BUDGET

FY25

​

Proposed Budget

Operating Budget

Expenditures Change

​

$ 35,039,758 gross operating budget

​

​

$1,517,900 4.53%

​

Summary

CATEGORY CATEGORY % of TOTAL $ CHANGE

CHANGE CHANGE

​

• Salaries 4.14% 50.56% $ 767,403

• Benefits 4.46% 20.97% $ 318,271

​

• Transportation 11.04% 19.36% $ 293,826

​

Summary

CATEGORY CATEGORY % of TOTAL $ CHANGE

CHANGE CHANGE

​

• Technology 30.45% 6.95% $ 105,500

​

• Educ. Services 5.62% 5.75% $ 105,000

& Tuition

​

• Educ. Supplies, 4.05% 1.08% $ 16,350

Materials & Equip.

​

Summary

CATEGORY CATEGORY % of TOTAL $ CHANGE

CHANGE CHANGE

​

• Activities & 13.61% 1.71% $ 26,000

Athletics

• Utilities 2.42% 1.44% $ 21,920

​

• Facilities & 1.84% 0.79% $ 12,050

Operations

Summary

CATEGORY CATEGORY % of TOTAL $ CHANGE

CHANGE CHANGE

​

• Other Admin 1.06% 0.26% $ 4,000

Costs

​

• Legal & -2.31% -0.25% $ -3,870

Other Insurance

• Prof. Develop. - 0.77% -0.07% $ -1,050

BUDGET

by Department

SUMMARY

• Elementary School 19.74%
• Middle School 16.82%
• High School 26.32%
• Student Services (+ ELL) 10.43%

73.31%

SUMMARY

• Transportation & Food Service 8.42%
• District-wide - All Other* 13.90%
• School Committee & Administration 1.82%
• Facilities & Maintenance 2.55%

* Includes non-public transportation, retiree health insurance, contingency, school choice.

Operating Budget

Expenditures Change

​

$35,039,758 gross operating budget

​

$1,517,900 4.53%

​

$33,014,758 net operating budget

​

$1,517,900 4.82%

Operating Budget

• Difference between Gross Operating and Net Operating due to reduction by Choice & Tuition Revenue

​

• Choice level based on current projections.

​

• Tuition level based on current projections.

CAPITAL BUDGET

FY25

​

Proposed Budget

Capital Budget

Expenditures Change

​

$ 533,750 gross operating budget

​

​

-$1,183,125 -68.91%

​

FY25

• Stabilization Funding $500,000
• Short-Term Interest $ 33,750

FY25

REVENUE

Excess & Deficiency

• FY23 Certified E&D is $ 792,101
• = 2.27% of FY24 total budget

​

• $617,000 used to offset operating budget.

​

​

• Represents 77.89% of E&D Balance.

FY25

Assessments

Assessments to Member Towns

Three Considerations:

​

• Population Allocation

​

• Minimum Local Contribution

​

• Net Assessment

Assessments to Member Towns

Population Allocation

FY 24 FY 25

Great Barrington 74.4804% 74.2045%

645 653

​

Stockbridge 13.1640% 12.9545%

114 114

​

West Stockbridge 12.3557% 12.8409%

107 113

Assessments to Member Towns

Minimum Local Contribution

​

• “ . .. shall annually appropriate [an] amount equal to not less than the sum of the minimum required local contribution . . .”

​

• “The district may choose to spend additional amounts; . . . charged to members according to the district’s required agreement.”

​

MGL Ch. 70, § 6

​

Assessments to Member Towns

Minimum Local Contribution*

FY 24 FY 25

Great Barrington $8,090,456 $8,593,682

​

Stockbridge $1,569,211 $1,693,659

​

West Stockbridge $1,360,800 $1,499,728

​

​

*from Governor’s budgets

Assessments to Member Towns

Net Assessments

FY 24 FY 25

Great Barrington $20,333,733 $21,040,872

​

Stockbridge $3,733,143 $ 3,866,686

​

West Stockbridge $3,391,845 $ 3,653,683

Assessments to Member Towns

Change:

Total Assessment 4.02% $ 1,102,519

​

Change:

• Great Barrington 3.48% $ 707,138
• Stockbridge 3.58% $ 133,543
• W. Stockbridge 7.72% $ 261,838

QUESTIONS

?