JACKSON BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPTS $15.3 MILLION BUDGET

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education Tuesday approved a 1993-94 operating budget that calls for expenditures of $15,299,812. Included in this year's budget is funding for construction of the new middle school.

The board also approved an increase in tuition for non-resident students.

The 1993-94 budget anticipates total receipts of $12,628,089, compared to actual receipts of $16,898,418 in the 1992-93 budget.

Explaining the major difference in the new budget, school district business manager Howard Alexander said the 1992-93 budget anticipated receipts of only $11,773,495. He said the increase came from the bond receipts of $4.7 million for construction of the middle school.

"If you subtract the $4.7 million bond issue, it gives an actual receipts figure of $12,198,418 in the new budget," said Alexander.

He said the goal of the district has been to keep any increases in expenditures offset with an increase in revenue. "This budget would be in line with that goal," said Alexander.

Superintendent Wayne Maupin said although the new budget is much different than last year's because of the impact of Senate Bill 380, it is still a good one.

He said: "The bottom line is the district is financially sound. We've taken a conservative approach with receipts and expenditures. It's going to be a learning process for all of us with the approval of Senate Bill 380 and the impact it will have on our district.

Most of the increase in the budget will go toward increased salaries and benefits, which were raised this year for the first time in more than three years. In addition, the district is purchasing $177,000 worth of new school buses; it did not purchase any new buses last year.

In prepared remarks for the board during submission of the budget, Alexander said of Senate Bill 380: "This has been the most difficult year to project state income for the district. There is confusion at all levels concerning just what this legislation will mean to the state and local school districts.

"There are concerns over the accuracy of the projections, but these are the best figures we have to work with at the moment. The projected state receipts in the budget are the best estimate that we could come up with after talking with the state Department of Education."

Alexander said passage of Senate Bill 380 means the district will receive $117 more per student per school day, or a total of $350,000 more in state money during the 1993-94 school year. He said this amount is projected to go up as the full impact of Senate Bill 380 is phased in over the next four years.

Alexander said the new budget will keep the district in sound financial condition that will allow it to meet the needs of the district in the future. But he cautioned the board not to overextend itself because of the following unknown factors:

- The cost of construction and equipping the new middle school. Alexander said the board made a commitment for additional local funds for the project and funds may be needed to supplement the bond issue.

- Demands on the board and administration next year for additional staff positions. Said Alexander: "Much is needed; however, caution should be taken in making a commitment before facts are known. We will need additional personnel for the operation of the middle school, and this must be kept in mind."

- Some areas of the budget are now state-mandated and must be maintained or the district will lose state funding. These areas include teacher professional development training and At Risk funds

- Alexander said there are still a lot of uncertainties at the state level concerning the full impact of Senate Bill 380 on the school districts in the state. "The question of adequate funding will still be with us," he warned. "Will the state be able to fund the formula? Will the judge accept the formula? What will be the court's reaction to additional suits?"

He said, "This will probably will be a year in which the board will be asked to revise the budget because of changing laws and uncertain financial projections of state receipts.

In other business, the board approved a $200 increase in the non-resident tuition rate for students in kindergarten through eighth grade from $2,600 to $2,800 per year.The tuition rate for non-resident high school students will go up $400, from $3,300 to $3,700 per year.

Maupin said the increase is due to an increase in teacher salaries in the new budget. He said about 40 non-resident students attend Jackson schools, most of them from the Nell Holcomb School District.

In his report, Maupin said the new hot-water boiler for the high school building should go on line this week. He also asked the board to consider possible names for the new middle school, and announced the middle school construction project will be ready to advertise for bids by the end of the month.