OXFORD – Oxford knows it isn’t the only New York district faced with tough decisions as a result of reductions in the state aid. But that is small consolation as the school system begins a budget season which promises to be even more excruciating than last year.

“We know there will be a large gap,” said Superintendent Randy Squier, referring to the $331,933 reduction in state aid the district could be hit with based on Governor David Paterson’s executive budget proposal. “It’s going to be a very difficult budget year.”

While those revenue numbers aren’t set in stone yet, they are a safe starting point for budget calculations because Squier doesn’t expect them to drop any further.

“The worst case scenario is that they go with his proposal,” he reported. And while there is still hope that some aid will be restored by the legislature, Squier isn’t exactly optimistic. Based on what he’s been hearing from Albany, “they are not going to be putting much back, if any,” he said.

Last year, the district was faced with a proposed $184,000 cut, which was never realized thanks to federal stimulus money.

The second half of those stimulus funds – which amount to approximately $230,000 – are already into the aid estimates for next year, Squier explained. He doesn’t anticipate another influx of federal money “showing up to save the day.”

Developing the current year’s budget, which totals $17,228,700 and represented a .55 percent increase in spending over the prior academic year, was a heated process during which the board and administration met with resistance and criticism from both the district’s staff and community members. This year, Oxford is following a new, more transparent plan of action for the budget process; one the superintendent characterizes as “honest” and “unfiltered.”

According to Squier, faculty and staff spent two days last week trying to identify areas where the district could realize greater efficiencies, exploring “what if” scenarios and discussing the district’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We want to make sure everybody has been heard on these important questions,” the district administrator said. Those comments are still being typed up, he explained, and will be given to the board.