Jackson school board OKs tentative $8 million budget

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Jackson School District Board of Education approved an $8 million tentative budget Tuesday night, which includes more than $4 million for capital projects including new computers, roof repairs and new HVAC systems at two buildings.

The final budget will not be ready until at least mid-August, when the exact numbers for the 2001-02 school year are known.

Some of the estimated costs in the tentative budget include a new $30,000 computer lab to replace an outdated one in a math and science room at the high school; $54,000 for track repair at the junior high school; $44,000 to update Bob Sink's industrial technology classroom at the high school; and $330,000 to replace the HVAC system at West Lane Elementary School.

Superintendent Ron Anderson said the 15-year-old HVAC system at the board office will also have to be replaced at a cost of approximately $30,000.

The tentative budget includes a beginning balance of $8,285,436, which is approximately $3 million higher than the ending balance of the current year.

Jim Welker, assistant superintendent for finance, said the difference is higher than they expected for two reasons.

"One reason is the state changed some of its bookkeeping practices concerning when they pay us our grant money," he said. "The other is that our utilities were considerably better than the previous year."

Welker said in previous years the state has paid the district its grant money and other state funding in July or August, which is already into the new fiscal year. This year the district received its payment Friday. The new fiscal year begins Monday.

The tentative budget for the 2002-03 school year also has a beginning balance of $3.2 million less than the beginning balance for last year.

Welker said that is because the 2001-02 budget included the cost of renovations at the junior high school.

When the final numbers for the 2001-02 school year are compiled the district will amend the tentative budget for the 2002-03 school year to include exact numbers for the year.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128