The Orange Board of Education presented a budget to the Board of Finance on March 22 that met the requested 1.99 percent increase. That portion of the complete town budget is now ready for the April 25 budget hearing, though it could see minor adjustments before then.
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At a 1.99 percent increase, the requested 2016 to 2017 budget for the Orange school district comes in at $389,333 over the current operating budget. The proposed Orange Board of Education budget is $20,000,063.
Administration as a whole, which included the most line items, was the largest increase at $220,167 over the approved operating budget for a total proposal of $10,104,709 for that category. Withing that category, non-certified staff was the single largest increase.
In contrast to the increases, the board of education is budgeting for a significant decrease in utility spending following participation in United Illuminating programs and the installation of more efficient lighting. Electricity costs are set at $110,840 under the operating budget.
Special education costs were budgeted by nearly $40,000 less than the operating budget. This was attributed to several students moving on to Amity Middle School where they will no longer be on the Orange districts enrollment. The Orange board expects to reduce the number of special education instructors as a result.
The other education budget facing Orange, the Amity Regional School District No. 5 budget, has not yet been presented in a final form to the Orange Board of Finance. The town splits that budget with Bethany and Woodbridge. They were given the same 1.99 percent or under increase request but reportedly were hovering around the 2.25 percent increase mark. It was feared that going under 2 percent would require terminating positions.
The Orange Board of Education budget is now set for the April 25 town budget hearing and barring significant changes will head to either the Town Meeting or a referendum more or less as is.