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School districts like Broadalbin-Perth obtain revenue from three primary sources: State aid, local property taxes and undesignated fund balances (“rainy day” funds). The district’s two largest sources of revenue, state aid and local property taxes, could take a severe hit in 2010-11 to the tune of up to $1,742,085 – or an 6.2 percent reduction in total revenue from 2009-10.

Voters in the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District will elect two Board of Education members to begin serving a five-year term on July 1, 2010. The vacancy is caused by the expiration of the terms for Wendy Perry and Joseph Renaud on June 30, 2010. In addition, voters will elect one Board of Education member to serve a two year term beginning on July 1, 2010. This vacancy is caused by the resignation of Board Member John Pecora effective June 30, 2010.

With schools facing numerous challenges related to this year’s budget development process, Gov. David Paterson has repeatedly suggested that school districts use their unrestricted reserves – known as fund balances – to cover any losses in state aid for the 2010-11 school year.

Broadalbin-Perth, like just about every other school district in New York State, is preparing to face what could be a potentially grim budget season. Here’s why:

Developing a school budget is challenging even in the best of times, but this year the process in Broadalbin-Perth has been downright agonizing. First there was the threat of a mid-year state aid cut, which fortunately didn’t happen. But then came the Governor’s 2010-11 executive state budget, which calls for Broadalbin-Perth to lose as much as $1.5 million in state aid next year.

Academic programs, extracurricular activities and jobs could all be in jeopardy this spring as members of the Broadalbin-Perth Board of Education craft the 2010-11 budget proposal that will be presented to voters in May.

As they complete work on the 2010-11 school budget proposal, members of the Broadalbin-Perth Board of Education and administration want to know what district residents most value in their school system.

Residents had an opportunity to provide their opinions about each part of the school budget during a series of six Community Roundtables throughout the year. Now, the district is providing an online survey as another means for residents to share their views on education spending before they vote on the proposed school budget on May 18.