Cape district budget up more than $2.7M from last year

Cape Girardeau School Board members Monday approved a $53,353,071 budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, up from the $50,634,341 budget for 2013-2014.

The 2014-2015 plan features an average 2.5-percent across-the-board increase for district employees. The district has 638 employees, 409 of whom are teachers, assistant superintendent of administrative services Neil Glass has said.

The budget was discussed in a work session and then approved during the board's regular meeting.

Local property taxes are the primary source of district revenue. The 2014-2015 projection includes an approximately 3 percent jump in assessed valuations to $620 million from $602 million last year.

State allocations may rise an estimated $324,000 for the district because of a rise in the state's education-funding formula. The average base salary for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree here will be $32,000 a year for 2014-2015. During the past three years, the district has been trying to transition from a frozen teacher salary schedule to a new one.

Glass has said there are still 122 employees on the frozen schedule. An additional 12 moved onto the new schedule and 12 to 15 retired, mostly from the frozen portion, he said.

An amendment to the 2013-2014 budget also was approved to reflect actual expenditures, revenue and fund transfers through June 30.

Glass and superintendent James Welker applauded district accountant Lindsey Dudek and the business staff for all their work on the budget.

"We feel pretty good about where we're at and where we're headed," Glass said.

Other business

* Board president Kyle McDonald, giving the district's foundation report, said the foundation's next event will be its annual golf tournament Sept. 22 at Cape Girardeau Country Club.

* Glass and Welker noted the Cape Central Booster Club will hold its annual golf benefit tournament to raise funds for the organization July 11 at the country club.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.