This year’s deficit and next year’s budget bookended the New Shoreham School Committee’s meeting on January 13. The committee was pleased to hear that the projected deficit for the 2019-2020 school year has been reduced to about $50,000, less than half of the initial amount. But the causes of the deficit are among the factors driving the budget discussions for 2020-2021.
“We are projecting ending Fiscal Year 2020 with a deficit of $50,044,” Block Island School Superintendent Michael Convery told the committee. As of Dec. 31, the projected net increase in spending for the current year is $50,044, a reduction of $27,813, or 35 percent, from the last financial report for November 30. Since the first deficit projection in September, the school administration has closed the spending gap by $82,618, or 62 percent, largely by freezing discretionary spending.
“While we have improved our overall deficit,” Convery continued, “we are projecting a larger deficit in salaries” than previously reported. “This is due to the addition of the full-time Teaching Assistant for the balance of the school year.” Interviews were held the day of the meeting. The salary line deficit is now projected at
