Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:45 PM CDT
Mattoon school board amends budget to reflect
$1.05 million deficit amid state funding delays
By NATHANIEL WEST, For the JG/T-C
MATTOON — So much for being in the black.
Although the Mattoon school district curbed expenses this fiscal year by almost $1.5 million and the school board passed a balanced budget in September, the board was forced Tuesday to pass an amended budget — with a deficit of about $1.05 million — because the state has fallen behind on certain payments by almost $1.1 million.
Tuesday was the last day of the 2009 fiscal year, and administrators had already anticipated amending the budget. The board previously approved what is effectively an advance on county property tax payments in order to cover the shortfall in “categorical” reimbursements from the state.
“If we had received that money from the state, I would have been giving you a balanced budget today,” Assistant Superintendent of Business Tom Sherman told the board Tuesday.
As of the board meeting, the state owed the Mattoon school district $1,081,182 in reimbursements for special education private facilities, funding for special education students, special education personnel, special education transportation, regular transportation and free breakfasts and lunches.
Sherman noted that four of those six categories “relate to the kids that need the most services,” referring to students with disabilities.
The board passed the amended budget Tuesday by a vote of 5-0. Voting in favor of the budget were Robert Miller, Bill Standerfer, Robert McClusky, Gary Kepley and Colleen Garner. Board members Michelle Skinlo and Rodney Morris were absent.
The amended budget allows for $33,827,000 in expenses and $32,778,138 in revenues, with $643,396 in the bank.
Sherman reported that the district lowered expenses by $1,494,624 from fiscal year 2008 to 2009.
Administrators, faculty and staff “did a tremendous job of cutting back on expenses,” Sherman said.
He and Superintendent Larry Lilly speculated that the state next year may meet current and previous obligations for categorical payments, or it may just allocate what was owed this year.
However, as the benefits of the federal stimulus spending and school district early retirements begin to materialize, the budget crunch may begin to ease in 2011 and 2012, Sherman said.
The fiscal year beginning today, though, “is going to be tight,” he said.
Also on Tuesday, the board renewed an agreement with Indiana Insurance for property, liability and vehicle coverage. The premium increased by about $31,000 from last year, although it had been lowered by roughly $25,000 the year before, so the premium increase over the last two years was $5,800, said Sherman.
Mark Donaldson, representative for Dimond Brothers Insurance Agency in Mattoon, told the board that most of the premium increase resulted from more than $300,000 in worker’s compensation claims in the 2007-08 school year.
Sherman noted that there were significantly fewer claims this year.
Also Tuesday, the board voted to seek bids for the house to be built by the Mattoon High School building trades students on the northeast corner lot of the property that once hosted the now-demolished Lincoln School.
Sherman said a prospective buyer would like input on the construction of the home from the early stages. By seeking bids now, “It guarantees that house will be sold ahead of time,” he said.
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com.
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medic57 wrote on Jul 3, 2009 11:21 AM:
If you had not blown 25 mil in the last 10 years you wouldn't even have to worry about it. "