The Western Suffolk BOCES budget for 2017-18 results in a 1.88% increase in the administrative charge and a 0% increase in the capital charge, for a combined increase of 1.12%. Over the past six years, the average increase of the administrative charge has been 1.51% and the average increase for the
capital charge has been 0.33%.
As in school districts, the major cost factors in the Western Suffolk BOCES budget include: modest salary increases, in part required by contractual agreements; modest decreases in contribution rates set by the two retirement systems; and significant increases in health insurance costs for active employees as well as a growing number of retirees. The increase in the budget that is assessed to component districts is 2.1%. Revenues continue to see the impact of the low interest rates on deposits and a decrease in funds from grants. The administrative charge is set by subtracting revenues from the administrative budget.
Four districts will see declines in their combined administrative and capital charges; the largest decline is $4,863 in Commack. Fourteen districts will see increases with Huntington seeing the largest increase at $16,967. The administrative charge is distributed to the districts based on a weighted 3-year average of their daily student attendance.
Capital Charge Frozen
The capital budget, which had been frozen for five of the past six years, will again see no increase in 2017-18. Owning rather than renting the majority of our buildings, as well as negotiating a long-term lease for the only building we do rent, helps control costs in the capital budget.
90.2% of Budget Goes to Programs
The total proposed tentative BOCES budget for Combined Administrative & Capital Charge Increase Is 1.12% 2017–18 is $162,102,484. Of this, 90.2% is driven by programs and services that local school districts request. Of the remainder, 2.7% are costs of administration; 5.1% for post-retirement benefits; and 2.0% for the capital budget.
Annual Meeting April 4
The BOCES Board will present the budget and answer questions at its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 4 in the Large Conference Room at the Central Administration Office, 507 Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills. By law, the 18 Boards of Education within Western Suffolk BOCES will vote on
the BOCES administrative budget on April 25 when local boards will also elect two members to serve three-year terms on the Western Suffolk BOCES Board.