Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Duneland Schools expect funding boost from state in 2016 budget

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

Duneland Schools will advertise its 2016 budget at $66,352,100, an increase of almost $1.3 million over 2015’s advertised amount.

Monday’s school board meeting marked the start of the yearly budget process beginning with a preliminary review by Duneland’s Chief Financial Officer Lynn Kwilasz and the board’s authorization to advertise for a public hearing next month.

Indiana state lawmakers’ decision to increase student funding at public schools this year is making the budgeting process for Duneland schools an easier task. The foundation amount schools will get is $4,967 per student. Compared to $4,587 for 2015, that’s a difference of $380 per student and the largest the school corporation has received since 2009.

Also, more good news for Duneland, full day kindergarten students will be counted as full instead of half when the state makes its count to determine the Average Daily Membership on Friday, Sept. 18.

ADM is what the state uses to determine how much support a school corporation will get from the state school funding formula.

With the larger cash flow expected next year, Duneland Schools Superintendent David Pruis said the funds will help cover increases to employee benefits, additional supply costs and professional development.

The general fund for 2016 is estimated at $36.9 million, which is provided by a percentage of the state’s sales tax.

The other budgets -- capital funds projects, debt service, pension debt service, transportation, bus replacement and the referendum -- are supported through local property taxes.

The largest of those is the capital projects fund with $9.4 million advertised for next year. The fund pays for technology, construction, building improvements and acquisitions.

Kwilasz said the advertised amount for Capital Projects Fund (CPF), as well as all other levied funds, are advertised at higher than what the levy is expected to capture to gain the maximum amount available. Last year the fund was advertised a little below $9.4 million and the state certified the budget at $8.6 million.

“We make it higher to get all the dollars we are entitled to,” said Kwilasz.

For 2016, Kwilasz said she expects the CPF fund to be certified at between $8.2 million to $8.4 million. The schools did acquire more funds for facility projects earlier this year at the board’s decision to issue a bond, she added.

Buses

The bus replacement fund’s advertised amount is $772,500 for six buses -- four conventional size, one special needs and one “pusher” school bus. Kwilasz expects the levy to come in at $715,000 but the fund has built up cash reserves which will help cover the total costs. The reserve money should last until about 2020, she said, then the school corporation will need to hold on to buses or make a case to the state for more growth.

The buses are on a 12-year replacement plan. They are acquired through cooperative purchasing with other schools districts in the state.

Board member Ron Stone advised that costs for vehicles are rising considerably and new residential development is coming in the next few years, which could be challenging. Kwilasz said harsh winter weather has a negative impact, creating potholes on the roads.

Board President Ralph Ayres said perhaps schools could reach out to legislators to make changes in funding for buses as other school corporations are facing the same dilemma.

“I imagine they’re probably having the same conversation we’re having,” he said.

Referendum

The school referendum fund will be advertised at $5,875,000 to achieve the full 22 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. This will be the fourth year for the referendum fund.

Kwilasz said the fund supports 114 staff member salaries and benefits, including nurses, librarians and aides. Pruis said if there is a cash balance remainder in the fund, it would be used to pay for programs.

Last year the referendum fund captured $5,746,240 of the certified levy.

Elsewhere in the 2016 budget, Duneland’s debt service fund is advertised at $7.6 million, its pension debt service at $1.6 million and its transportation operating at $4.1 million.

Tax rate

Despite a larger budget, Kwilasz said Duneland taxpayers can expect to see a lower tax rate for the schools next year as the school corporation is seeing its certified net assessed value rise $120 million to $2.597 billion, according to figures from the County Auditor’s office.

The total rate advertised is $1.2697 per $100 of AV for 2016. That’s less than the $1.3024 advertised for 2015, which was certified at $1.043 in the final levy.

The growth in AV will also slow the effects of the property tax caps, Kwilasz said. She projects the corporation will lose about $400,000 due to the caps next year but “it’s better than” the $700,000 drop seen a few years ago.

“It’s still a stick in the eye, but a less sharp stick,” she said.

Public hearing

The public hearing for the advertised budget will take place at the board’s next meeting on Monday, Sept. 14. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. instead of the usual meeting time of 6 p.m. so the full board can be there.

Board member John Marshall said he has a presentation with the Duneland Chamber of Commerce at the Chesterton Town Council at 7 p.m. and requested the time change.

The hearing and budget will be advertised in the Sept. 1 edition of the Chesterton Tribune and also online at www.budgetnotices.in.gov.

Enrollment climbs slightly

In his comments to the board, Pruis said the latest enrollment figure for the school corporation is 5,894 students, which is 10 more than what the ADM count was in September 2014.

He said the school year got off to a smooth start, overall, with much of that to do with the new building projects and upgrades done by work crews and Duneland Support Maintenance staff.

Director of Support Services Greg Lindy was commended on a job well done. There are some projects that are still being finished up, Lindy said, such as the stadium repairs at the CHS football field for this year which will be finished Wednesday.

The basketball courts at Westchester Intermediate will be completed “in the very near future,” Lindy added.

Interim Director of Transportation Kathy Forszt was also lauded by the board for stepping in for Jim Bonfield, who was killed in motorcycle accident last month.

Agreements

The board unanimously approved, under the recommendation of service committee, to accept a lease agreement with the Northwest Indiana Education Services Center for the use of three classroom spaces and six parking spaces at Liberty Elementary.

 

Posted 8.25.2015

 
 
 
 

 

 

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