Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Colfax Business Manager Reece Jenkin took the school board through a proposed 2019-2020 budget Monday night in a work session before the three members on hand approved it in their regular meeting.
The budget is for 546 students projected, with total expenditures of $8,258,755 and total revenue of $7,985,000. The $273,000 deficit will be covered by reserves.
Jenkin explained later to the Gazette that reserves have built up in recent years, and it was expected that they would be tapped this year after changes in levy rules from the state.
In 2018, Colfax collected $1.3 million from levies. In 2019, the number was $656,000 and in 2020 it will be $750,000.
Another change Jenkin noted to the board was in School Employees Benefits Board rules which now require employees working 3.5 hours per day to have full benefits, beginning in January. Further adjustments from the state may come.
“Because of this, you're gonna see a large increase in benefits cost,” Jenkin said. “Every district is trying to grasp that. I'm guessing a little bit of movement prior to January.”
Also as part of his presentation, Jenkin showed the board a rundown of a new state requirement, a four-year budget forecast for the general fund.
“We're losing about four kids a year,” he said. “That has an effect on the budget.”
Jenkin explained later to the Gazette that with variances for size of the graduating class each year and the size of the incoming kindergarten class, Colfax averaged four students less per year for about the last 10 years.
State funding is based on student counts.
Jenkin noted a debt service levy for 2019-20 of $1,155,500 and a $750,000 maintenance and operations levy, both to be certified in November.
He talked to the board about $1,432,000 in debt expenditures, which includes the final payment in December on the district's 2003 bond, as well as part of the 2019 construction bond.
“So the old one gets paid off,” said Jenkin.
On debt service and capital projects, Jenkin pointed out to the board the high numbers of $14,388,889 total expenditures for the year in capital projects.
“By the end of next school year, that bond project should be about wrapped up,” Jenkin said.
The board also reviewed how the district buys one new bus per year, paid for with a state depreciation schedule.
All told, the board approved a 2019-20 budget consisting of the $8,258,755 in general fund, $253,025 for ASB, $1,432,000 in debt service, $175,000 in transportation vehicle fund and $14,388,000 in capital projects.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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