Malone reports Swampscott schools on target with budget

SWAMPSCOTT – In a budget tracking report for the current fiscal year, the district is on target according to school officials.For the majority of the line budget items, the district has spent between 10 and 15 percent of its budget for the fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.Superintendent Matthew Malone said this is the fourth month of the fiscal year and the second month of the academic year.?Overall we’ve spent 14 percent of our $22.4 million budget for the year,” he said. “We’re right on track for this time of year.”The district has spent approximately 10 percent of the money allotted for teacher salaries at all schools in the district, which is where Malone said it should be.The district has already spent 46 percent of its line item budget for educational materials and almost 77 percent of its budget for copier supplies, but Malone pointed out those were items ordered at the beginning of the year and would be used throughout the year.Malone said the line item budget is useful in tracking expenses, but money could be shifted between line items if necessary. For example, money budgeted for substitute teachers that isn’t spent could be used to cover other line items that have a deficit.?It all comes down to the bottom line,” he said.Malone said he would continue updating the School Committee at future meetings as to where the budget for this fiscal year stands.School Committee member Joseph Crimmins said he is pleased the School Committee and public are being kept abreast of budget issues.?I think these types of reports are consistent with our promise as a committee to stay on top of things and keep the public informed,” he said. “We have an open book policy and have all the information available on the district Web site.”