Board reviews proposed budget for 2009-2010
April 23, 2009
During its work session today, the school board reviewed a proposed 2009-2010 budget which includes $192 million in revenues and $193 million in expenditures. Compared with 2008-2009, that is a reduction of $4.7 million in revenue and $6.2 million in expenditures.
As proposed, next year’s budget does not include a salary adjustment or step increase for employees. However, the board did indicate an interest in offering vertical steps to teachers who are eligible due to furthering their education. The board directed administration to attempt to identify an additional $520,000 to cover this expense.
The proposed budget includes a reduction in personnel costs of $780,000, of which $511,488 has already been identified through attrition. It is the goal to attain the remaining reductions through attrition as well.
More than 81 percent of the budget is related to salaries and benefits. Reductions to personnel amount to only 1.23 percent of total salary and benefits. The largest proposed reduction is in capital outlay which is reduced by about 29 percent.
About $1.1 million in new requests are included in the proposed budget, including $484,444 for utilities; $318,000 for fuel; and $98,390 for athletic transportation.
Overall about 59 percent of the district’s budgeted expenditures are targeted at instruction.
At this time, no federal funds related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are included in the proposed budget. However, initial indications are that Title I and Special Education programs will receive about $11.5 million from ARRA for the two-year period beginning in July 2009.
Superintendent Norm Ridder noted that more information about state education funding will be available in mid-May when the Missouri legislature adopts a budget. At that time, staff will return to the board with a budget update. The district must adopt its budget by June 30, 2009.