Post on 13-Jan-2016
transcript
R.E.A.D.The Cost of
Underfunded Mandates
May 2011
READ School Districts: Brewster, Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland
R.E.A.D.Meeting GoalsMeeting Goals
Explain our analysis of underfunded mandates.
Illustrate the need for legislation which requires calculating local costs associated with bills before they are enacted.
Illustrate the need to review current mandates to see if there are alternatives to reduce costs.
There are ‘low-hanging’, less politically driven mandates that can be adjusted to reduce tax payer costs immediately.
Illustrate the need to slow down APPR implementation, which could be one of the largest underfunded mandate to date.
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R.E.A.D.R.E.A.D.R.E.A.D.Specific Focus Rolling back underfunded mandates, by making
lawmakers aware of their actual costs
Sharing cost saving ideas among the R.E.A.D. districts
TRS and ERS pension fund shortfalls
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R.E.A.D.Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
Be informed: We need to understand where and how funding is spent.
Responsible leadership: We represent taxpayers. These mandates are paid for by local
property taxes.
Accountability and transparency: School districts must show how they spend money.
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R.E.A.D.Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
R.E.A.D. created a template that itemizes and presents information on estimating the cost of Underfunded mandates.
Over 90 mandates are included, segmented into categories:
Special Education & Special Services
NCLB Requirements/ Academic Intervention Services AIS/RTI
Transportation
Health & Safety Buildings & Grounds Finance
Professional Development
R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference
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R.E.A.D.Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
State, Federal and SED mandates are included.
Does not include mandates which R.E.A.D. feels are necessary district obligations.
Does not include costs associated with Benefits (retirement system, health, etc.), Wick’s Law (over the life of the loan), Triborough and other major benefit, negotiation or construction costs.
The compilation is an objective view of mandate costs. Each mandate has cost consequences whether or not they are
beneficial.The list is continuously updated and revised to be a more accurate
representation of mandate obligations. The most recent revision is an update developed in December
2009.R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference 6
R.E.A.D.Mandate Cost CalculationMandate Cost Calculation
Each district compiles their own data. NYSBBA and Westchester Putnam School Board Association
(WPSBA) are helping to coordinate the effort.
Definitions for mandate have been developed so that districts are consistent in identifying costs associated with mandates.
Methods for estimating personnel hours and other costs, ST3 locations, etc. are provided to make cost calculations easier.
Templates for estimating testing costs and Wick’s law costs are provided.
R.E.A.D. Presentation, Fall 2010 NYSBBA Conference
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R.E.A.D.Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
Categories, descriptions, and account codes are provided. School districts provide actual amounts.
Aid is subtracted from total costs.
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As per SED ST3/Descriptions
R.E.A.D.The Cost of The Cost of Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates In FY ‘08-09, the total cost for these Underfunded mandates for
seven districts was $94.4 million, or an average of 20% of the entire school budget.
Total School District Budgets: $464.8 million
Source: Underfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts, FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel, Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland
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R.E.A.D.The Cost of The Cost of Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
Source: Underfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland
*Other = Health & Safety (1.4%), Finance (.4%), Buildings and Grounds and other (category not specified) mandates (<1%)
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R.E.A.D.Statewide CostsStatewide Costs
Statewide Costs for Underfunded Mandates 675 Districts
Total FY '08-09 budget for 675 districts $30,805,193,773
% of budget that is due to Underfunded mandates 20%Total Statewide Cost of Underfunded Mandates (extrapolated) $6,161,038,755
* Not including big 5 cities and special act districts.
Source: Underfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland
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R.E.A.D.The Cost of The Cost of Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
The numbers add up quickly for eight school districts...
Over $587,881 in testing costs.
Over $151,460 in internal audit costs.
Over $541,093 in data warehousing costs.
Over $287,338 in special education legal costs.
Over $66,185 in Special Education (STAC) reporting.
Over $118,000 in clerical costs associated with professional development & monitoring highly qualified teacher requirements.
Over $209,779 in inspections, monitoring, and compliance (OSHA, DEC, elevators, fire safety, extinguishers).
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Source: Underfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland
R.E.A.D.The True Cost Of Underfunded Mandates
Total Costs for Seven Districts
Average Cost Per District
Extrapolated Over 675 Districts*
Testing $587,881 $73,485 $49,602,459
Internal audit and risk assessment $151,460 $18,933 $12,779,438
Data warehousing $541,093 $67,637 $45,654,722
Special Education legal costs $287,338 $35,917 $24,244,144
Special Education (STAC) reporting. $66,185 $8,273 $5,584,359 Clerical costs associated with professional development & monitoring highly qualified teacher requirements. $118,000 $14,750 $9,956,250 Inspections, monitoring, and compliance (OSHA, DEC, elevators, fire safety, extinguishers $209,779 $26,222 $17,700,103
Total Costs for Select Mandates $1,961,736 $245,217 $165,521,475
* Not including big 5 cities and special act districts.
Source: Underfunded Mandate spreadsheet, 8 districts FY ’08-’09: Brewster, Carmel Croton-Harmon, Garrison, Haldane, Hendrick-Hudson, Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery, Lakeland
The Cost of The Cost of Underfunded MandatesUnderfunded Mandates
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R.E.A.D.Legislation Initial RequestsLegislation Initial RequestsMay 2011May 2011
Underfunded mandate reduction act, following the lines of the federal paperwork reduction act. Requires a cost estimate for each new mandate from the legislature or the education
department. These costs would be calculated for the different types of local districts and accumulated for a statewide total mandate cost.
Legislation to reduce the cost of the new comptroller’s audits, which have cost taxpayers more to conduct than they have saved. Reduce the frequency to every two years
Streamline the requirements on districts who have had clean records for two cycles, to a half-cost audit.
Support for the bill allowing amortization of TRS payments (Member Abbate’s Bill Number A06309 - Same as State Senate Number S 4067).
Delay introduction of APPR until costs associated with implementation such as data collection, reporting, training, etc. are known and mechanisms for paying for these costs are implemented. Estimated costs for 6 Rockland districts are $2.7 million per year. Extrapolated to 675
school districts the cost per year could be over $306 million per year.
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R.E.A.D.Brewster Central School District30 Farm to Market RoadBrewster, NY 10509SuperintendentDr. Jane Sandbankjsandbank@brewsterschools.org845-279-8000President of Board of EducationDr. Stephen Jamboroehan@aol.com
Haldane Central School District15 Craigside DriveCold Spring, NY 10516SuperintendentDr. Mark Villantimvillanti@haldane.lhric.org845-265-9254President of Board of EducationDavid Merandydmerandy@haldane.lhric.org
Hendrick Hudson Central School District61 Trolley RoadMontrose, NY 10548SuperintendentDr. Daniel McCannDaniel.McCann@henhudschools.orgPhone: 914-257-5112President of Board of EducationMarion WalshMarion.Walsh@henhudschools.org
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R.E.A.D.Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery School District PO Box 287Highland Falls, NY 10928 SuperintendentDr. Debra Jacksondjackson@hffmcsd.orgPhone (845) 446-9575President of the Board of EducationKevin D'Onofriokdonofrio@hffmcsd.org
Lakeland Central School District1086 East Main StreetShrub Oak, NY 10588SuperintendentDr. George Stonegstone@lakelandschools.org914-245-1700, ext. 222President of Board of EducationElizabeth Kogler
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R.E.A.D.Croton-Harmon Union Free School District10 Gerstein StreetCroton-On-Hudson, NY 10520SuperintendentDr. Edward R. Fuhrman Jr.*Edward.fuhrman@chufsd.org914-271-4793President of Board of EducationKaren ZevinKaren.zevin@chufsd.org
Garrison Union Free School District1100 Route 9DGarrison, NY 10524SuperintendentGloria J. Colucci*gcolucci@gufs.org845-424-3689President of Board of EducationCarol McCulloughcmccullough@gufs.org
* R.E.A.D. Co-Chairs for 2010-2011
Website: http://www.READ1.Org
R.E.A.D.