The Rochester City Council will hold a budget hearing for the proposed Rochester City School District budget where RCSD staff will answer questions from city council members.
This meeting comes after RCSD held a budget hearing on April 21 where several community members voiced their thoughts and concerns over the proposed budget cuts.
The proposed budget is currently $1.15 billion, an increase of $37.2 million from last year’s budget.
The district’s draft budget shows funding cuts of about $3 million for district-wide counseling, psychological services and social work.
Superintendent Eric Jay Rosser acknowledged during the meeting how difficult the budget process has been and how at this time their preliminary budget reflects the district’s best and most responsible planning.
Since releasing the draft budget, Rosser said, the district has been awarded $4.9 million in grant funding and have reinstated 15.5 social worker positions and 4.4 school counselor positions. The district has also identified revenue that will fund 18 home hospital teachers at this time.
The final budget vote for RCSD is set for May 5.
The budget hearing for this evening will be held at Rochester City Hall at 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on City 12. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the city council’s Youtube page.
—Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester council to question RCSD on $1.15B budget
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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