WP School Budget: Librarians on Chopping Block?

As White Plains academic officials work out the nuts and bolts of the 2013-14 school budget, elementary school librarians may be on the chopping block.

District leaders are considering slashing librarian hours, according to a dispatch on LoHud.com by Randi Weiner. The change would switch the educators from full-time to part-time, Weiner reports.

The 2012-2013 budget came in at $188,822,000, but current expense trends would place the 2013-14 budget around $194,000,000.

But the Cuomo-imposed cap requires a $193,600,000 budget, which translates into $1,250,000 in cuts.

Teacher and administrator paychecks comprise the bulk of this year's proposed spending, claiming about a 50-percent stake. The projected increase in salaries this year is $1,750,000.

Close behind are entitlements, with 24.5-percent of the budget allocated for employee benefits. Retirement system costs are expected to rise by over $2 million.

Debt service, utilities and repair, and BOCES expenses all come in at under 10-percent each.

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Budget timeline

March 17: Community response forum @ White Plains Library, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

March 20: Community response forum @ High School room B-1, 7:30 p.m.

April 8: Board adopts proposed 2013-14 budget @ Education House, 7:30 p.m.

May 13: Public hearing on adopted proposed budget @ Education House, 7:30 p.m.

May 21: Budget/school board vote