Sean C. Morgan
School District 55 is preparing to restore some previous cuts in the 2004-05 budget.
Business Manager Kevin Strong on Monday presented the School Board with a summary of assumptions the district is using to create its budget for next fiscal year, beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2005.
“We are currently putting together next year’s budget in preparation for the April 26 budget committee meeting,” Strong said. “At this time, we remain hopeful that we can present a budget that maintains current service levels along with a few small restorations from last year’s reductions.
“If everything goes as planned, we will start the 2004-05 fiscal year with a general fund balance in the neighborhood of $2.3 million. This projection is based on the most recent state revenue forecast, our district’s successful application for additional special education revenues and no spending surprises during the remainder of this fiscal year.
“We already know that next year’s state funding will be substantially less than this year’s funding due to the defeat of Measure 30. However, we are cautiously optimistic that we can still put together a budget that will leave us with an ending fund balance on June 30, 2005 of roughly $750,000. This will be a prudent 5-percent carryover.”
The proposed budget will probably retain this year’s reductions from the 2002-03 budget, including the following:
–The textbook fund will remain at the 2003-04 level, $25,000 less than 2002-03. Curriculum Director Jan Sharp said that next year’s second language textbook adoptions would be covered by the fund, but social studies adoptions the next year will be larger.
— Supplies and materials, $60,000 less than 2002-03.
— The secretary in the superintendent’s office, $7,000 less than 2002-03.
— Instructional assistant time, $15,000 less than 2002-03.
— Energy consumption rates will be offset by rising energy costs. Costs for the next budget were calculated at 2003-04 levels, $30,000 less than 2002-03.
— Superintendent travel time, $4,100 less than 2002-03.
— Elimination of testing at grades two and nine will cause remaining testing costs to remain at $2,000 less than 2002-03 levels.
— School Board travel time, $1,000 less than 2002-03.
Changes from the 2003-04 budget may include the following:
— Junior high athletics will reinstate coaching salaries for track but remain $4,000 under 2002-03 levels.
— High school sports will restore the cross country coaching position and some travel expenses but remain $10,000 under 2002-03 levels.
— Pool operations were offset by a reduction in services and a one-time donation of $20,000 by the City of Sweet Home, which has told the district it cannot afford the donation this year. The district hopes to recognize some savings in water and sewer costs with bond projects to improve the pool. Its budget will be $10,000 less than 2002-03.
— Teaching positions will remain at this year’s level except for a .5 full-time equivalent (FTE) increase being added back tot he high school in alternative education. The 2004-05 budget will be 5.5 FTE and $225,000 less than 2002-03 coinciding with a decrease in enrollment.
— Administrative positions will remain at this year’s levels except for the hiring of one or two head teachers to assist principals at Holley and Crawfordsville schools. This will remain about $90,000 less than 2002-03.
— The TAG assistant position will remain at 2003-04 levels except the return of .1 FTE, about $8,000 less than 2002-03.
–Supt. Larry Horton’s salary will be reinstated at 2002-03 levels when he took a voluntary pay cut. This will mean a reinstatement of $3,800.
— Custodial time will be reinstated at 2002-03 levels. A .5 FTE in savings in the 2003-04 budget will be added back to the budget. Though the cut was budgeted, the position was never reduced this year.
— Licensed teachers will receive a 1.25 percent salary increase plus step increases.
— Licensed teachers’ insurance cap will increase from $500 to $550 per month starting in October.
— The PERS contribution calculated at 16 percent for the employer and 6 percent for the employee, a total of 22 percent, will be reduced to 13.5 percent for the employer and 6 percent for the employee, a total of 19.5 percent.
— Classified and administrative employees are set to negotiate salaries and benefits this year. If contracts are signed prior to completion of a final budget, adjustments will be made at that time.