An Oxford Board of Education budget deficit that was reported in April to be $256,000, is now down to $126,000 and getting smaller, according to Rosemary Hanson, business manager for the schools.
The latest figures were announced at the Board of Finance meeting Monday, where Board of Education chairman Rose McKinnon updated board members on the projected deficit.
“They’ll come back to us in August, after all their bills are in and everything is done. We’re hoping for the best,” said Finance Board chairman Lila Ferrillo.
The deficit was partly caused by the $150,000 cost of emergency snow removal from school roofs — an unexpected cost that hit a lot of school districts after snowfall this past winter.
McKinnon in April also attributed part of the deficit to “miscalculations” by the previous school administration on salaries and benefits for school staff.
The deficit may be entirely resolved, Hanson said earlier this month.
Hanson told the Board of Education during a meeting at Oxford High School June 14 she hopes to find more savings before the end of the fiscal year on July 1. Bills for 2010-11 continue to be paid during the summer, board members said.
Hanson said she hopes to learn soon from the Federal Emergency Management Agency how much, if any, of the cost of snow removal from last winter will be reimbursed.
The district’s insurance company reimbursed $58,000 of the snow removal costs, and now the district is waiting on FEMA on the balance, Hanson said.
Ferrillo said if there is still a deficit after a final accounting, it will likely be handled through a general fund appropriation that would require Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and town meeting approval.
The board has taken steps to shave costs, such as a spending freeze and scrutinizing the substitute teacher account.
Now, board members said they hope to find further savings by selling off equipment that is no longer needed, such as unneeded frying machines from the cafeteria, said John Lavin, a member of the school board who is chairman of the finance sub-committee.
