Middleburgh school officials have found enough savings from retirements and in the 2010-11 budget to cover the shortfall in health insurance costs.
Superintendent Michele Weaver said last week the district's shortfall in health insurance costs for the 2011-12 school year would be $129,431 but about $80,000 in savings from retirements and $75,000 that can be used from this year's budget should more than offset the shortfall.
Board members were told earlier this month that the shortfall was $144,000 and did not know that $75,000 was available in the current budget that could be used for health insurance costs for next year.
The district is staying with the Empire plan but will have a self-insurance plan for prescriptions.
The cost for the Empire plan will be $326,812 for July (prescriptions included) but will drop to $271,000 a month for the rest of the year with the self-insurance prescription plan.
Ms. Weaver said since the July 6 meeting, the district found that $75,000 could be used from the 2010-11 budget to offset the shortfall.
Since the funds from 2010-11 can be used, the shortfall would drop to $54,431, Ms. Weaver said.
In addition, because of retirements, the district will save between $78,969 and $97,959.
The numbers, she said, could be a lot better in the end.
The district had to pay $97,000 toward the health consortium last year, the first time the district had to pay.
Ms. Weaver estimated the cost for this year as $75,000 but will not know that number until the spring.
"The best case scenario, we break even," she said.
Though it appears that MCS will have a surplus, board members made no decisions on whether to add any items back into the budget from their prioritized "action list" that was formulated in May.
Ms. Weaver said that officially, the only item added back into the budget was a guidance counselor.
"The only thing," she said.
Board members, she said, will be able to revisit and add back more items when the savings from retirements are finalized.
"That's a fact," she added. "Our district has not put anything back in."
Items on the action list for reinstatement are extra-curricular activities, the Visions and Home Run programs, money for the sports programs, music and field trips and more time for the physical therapist.
Despite the statement that money has not been added back for the items on the action list, the Home Run counselor at the elementary school was still working at the school after July 1, after the new school year started, and throughout the month.
Two teachers attending last week's meeting were not pleased with the tone of the discussions on July 6 and questioned some of Ms. Weaver's numbers.
Board officials said that the original $144,000 was created because the district and teachers were unable to come to an agreement on a new and cheaper health insurance plan.
"We didn't ask for this change," teacher Ross Pacatte said.
"It's kind of laid in our laps here."
Teacher Susan Peter said the teachers are already facing a change in the prescription plan that "we didn't agree to."
Mr. Pacatte said the teachers were not responsible for almost $110,000 of costs in health insurance.
He also questioned Ms. Weaver's estimate on employee contribution for the 2011-12 school year.
At an earlier meeting, he said, the estimate was $265,000 and is now $210,000.
Business administrator Mark Wagner said the earlier number was an estimate and included contributions for the prescription plan.
The board meets again on August 10.