OXFORD – The Oxford Academy school board released its 2007-2008 budget Thursday, asking for a 4.54 percent raise in spending and estimates the tax levy to increase by 4.9 percent. The total of the school budget is $16,465,186.

Last year, the district’s budget was $15,749,431 and was passed by a vote of 290-76. That budget asked for an increase of 8.58 percent in expenditures and a 2.5 percent tax levy increase.

Since 1998, the Oxford school budget has had an average annual increase of 6.2 percent and an average tax levy increase of 5.45 percent. However, the finances of the school district were changed greatly from their typical expenditures because in this time period, Oxford organized the construction of a new high school in 2002. This caused abnormal spending patterns in the year before the project and in the years after.

Superintendent Randy Squier said the district was able to save money because both energy and health care costs were lower than expected. Oxford will also be decreasing its staff by one and a half teachers and one teacher’s aide. Another factor in lowering costs was the fact that there were many new administrators who had lower salary costs than their predecessors, who retired or left. Oxford has also been working closely with BOCES to make its paper copies. “Normally each copy cost the district three cents, but when we go through them (BOCES), it only cost us half a cent,” said Squier.

Oxford also plans to increase the number of college courses it can offer to its students. “If approved, incoming freshmen in the next school year could graduate with as many as 25 college credits,” said Squier.

Oxford and many other districts in New York also lost about 3 percent in state aid from 2006, said Squire. “That may not sound like a lot, but when you consider just how big a part they offer, it has a big effect. We couldn’t operate without the state,” said Squier.