Jefferson’s proposed $5,173,053 budget for K-12 education in the 2014-2015 school year is up for a referendum vote on Tuesday, June 10.
The budget includes funds for one more teaching position than current staffing levels, the restoration of “specials” – art, music, and physical education – from half time to 80 percent of full time, $85,000 for the two-year lease-purchase of two new buses next year, and the appropriation of a $40,169 bus purchase reimbursement from the state to a bus purchase reserve account.
The additional teacher was originally discussed as being a second second-grade teacher, splitting up a 23-student class, but Principal Peter Gallace said May 27 the teacher may be retasked to split up an anticipated 23-student kindergarten class.
The proposed budget was unanimously recommended by the Jefferson School Committee, but received a number of split votes from the Jefferson Budget Committee.
A strong majority of voters supported the proposed budget at special town meeting on May 27.
If approved, the budget would be a $235,656 or 4.77 percent increase over the current year, representing a $140,325 or 4.4 percent increase to the amount needed to be raised by property taxes.
Comparatively the overall budget would be down $55,702 or 1.06 percent over the 2012-2013 school year, but would still be a $134,566 or 4.2 percent increase to the local share over that year.
The proposed education budget categories as adopted by Jefferson voters at special town meeting are: regular instruction, $2,015,786; special education, $752,911; career and technical education, $13,082; other instruction, $28,738; student and staff support, $169,528; system administration, $112,222; school administration, $157,017; transportation and buses, $455,782; facilities maintenance, $287,309; debt service and other commitments, $1,161,818; all other expenditures, $18,859; food service program, $10,289; local share of adult education, $8,872.
Voters will give their say on final approval to the budget at referendum on Tuesday, June 10. Polls will be open at the Jefferson Fire Station from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
