SHERBURNE – With recent years of budget cuts and constraints that have left a bad taste in the mouths of board members at the Sherburne-Earlville School District, preliminary figures of the 2013-2014 budget were met with vigilance at a board meeting held Monday.

Next year’s estimated budget currently stands at $29.76 million, with a figured tax levy increase of 1.9 percent.

“We really haven’t decided if that’s where we want to be, but we need to decide that soon,” said Assistant Superintendent Todd Griffin, paying notice to the approaching budget deadline for the upcoming year.

There are certain challenges to consider for the coming school year, Griffin added - primarily the rising pension and health care costs that have plagued school districts and municipalities statewide.

The upcoming budget includes an 8 percent increase in regular health insurance, as well as an 8 percent increase in retiree health insurance (a combined cost of $284,146). In addition, the Employee Retirement System (ERS) calls for a 21.5 percent increase ($152,897) and the Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) is looking at an increase of 16.25 percent ($200,932).

In all, the district is facing additional costs of $637,975 from those four budget line items alone, Griffin said. Adding to concern, school officials expect a decrease in state aid - approximately $934,009 less than what they received last year.