Josefsberg Recommends 2.17% Budget Increase for Barlow

The Region 9 Board of Education was happy with Dr. Bernard Josefsberg's initial budget request for the 2013-2014 school year, according to Mark Lewis, board vice chair.

The budget increase of 2.17 percent—or roughly $478,000—would bring Joel Barlow High School's total budget to $22.5 million.

"The request was well received, but the board requested recommendations from the administration on how to reduce the budget increase to at or just below two percent for our next meeting," Lewis wrote in an email to Patch. "This will require roughly $40-50,000 in reductions from the proposed budget. This is the lowest initial starting point that I can remember."

According to Lewis, the biggest increases occur in the following budget line items:

• Teachers — an increase of $314,312 (48 percent of total increase)
• Special education — an increase of $172,477 (26 percent)
• Mandates — an increase of $51,921 (8 percent)
• Transportation — an increase of $45,572 (7 percent)
• Security — an increase of $40,305 (6 percent)
• Other — an increase of $33,583 (5 percent)

The budget increase request also includes an $180,000 reduction in "other items."

The board's budget workshop scheduled for March 6 has been postponed to March 11, according to Lewis.

"In preparation for the workshop, board members will be reviewing the details of the proposed budget and submitting question to Peggy Sullivan for review at the workshop," Lewis said. "Members of the public are encouraged to email their questions on the budget to board members or directly to Peggy."

The board will then vote on the budget it will send to Redding and Easton voters at its regular meeting on March 19.