School officials analyzing proposed state budget
School administrators are poring over a $34 billion state budget legislators released Sunday to determine the impact the new figures will have on the Old Rochester Regional School district.
Superintendent Doug White prepared three different budgets for fiscal year 2014 to address competing school aid proposals put forth by Gov. Deval Patrick, the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.
One scenario would reduce the school’s operations line item by $75,295. To achieve that, six staff members would be laid-off. To avoid the cuts, the other two budgets depend on a combination of state aid and money used from the district’s excess and deficiency funds.
Gov. Patrick has 10 days to review the budget and make his recommendations.
Compared to the previous fiscal year, general education aid was increased to $4.31 billion from $4.17 billion; transportation aid to regional school districts rose from $45.5 million to $51.5 million; and aid to schools for extraordinary expenses related to special education went from $242 million to $252 million.
District Business Administrator Catherine Antonellis said school officials are analyzing the budget figures this week.