Proposed City School 2014 Budget Calls for 3.99 Percent Hike

Thanks to a combination of investments in green energy, consolidations, some early retirements and other cost-shifting measures, the proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Portsmouth School budget stands at more than $39.8 million.

Portsmouth Schools Superintendent Ed McDonough told Portsmouth School Board members Tuesday night the proposed spending package represents a 3.99 percent increase over the fiscal year 2013 budget, which is below the 4 percent threshold requested by the City Council for all departments. It also doesn't call for any teacher or staff layoffs.

“Happily, we’re not recommending any reduction in force to achieve the target,” he said.

McDonough said one of the biggest drivers of expenses facing the Portsmouth Schools are increased contributions that have to be made to the NH Retirement System. Overall, McDonough said the Portsmouth Schools will have to contribute more than $2.31 million to the state retirement system in fiscal year 2013 and more than $2.94 million in fiscal year 2014.

McDonough said he expects to see two teachers take early retirement before the end of January, which could free up their salaries and benefits. But he said it is not clear how much money the Portsmouth Schools may need to strengthen school security, which entered the picture after the Newtown, CT, shootings in December.

McDonough said he would like to add $40,000 to the budget to help cover the cost of an additional police officer at Portsmouth elementary schools to go with the school resource officer that serves Portsmouth Middle School. The Portsmouth Schools also want to hire a security consultant to help them identify areas where they can improve, he said.

Overall, Portsmouth School Board members said they were impressed with the proposed budget that McDonough presented. According to the current budget setting timetable, McDonough said the Portsmouth School Board is scheduled to approve the budget on Feb. 14 following a series of public hearings and workshops and the City Council is expected to adopt the new budget in early May.

The first public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget will be held on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.