District reduces expenses

As expenditures decrease and revenue remains flat, the district looks to shrink its food service fund balance.

As Vermilion Local Schools’ expenditures decrease and revenue remains flat, the district is looking to shrink its food service fund balance.

During a Feb. 11 board of education meeting, district Treasurer Justin Klingshirn said Vermilion Schools is on track to collect as usual while minimizing spending for the coming year.

“We’re on base to collect what we normally do in years past,” Klingshirn said.

Through the month of January, the district collected $12.25 million in general fund revenue, compared to $12.2 million in fiscal year 2018 and $12 million in 2017.

For food service revenue, $371,821 was collected, with $382,183 in 2018 and $364,820 in 2017.

For all funds revenue, $13.28 million for this fiscal year keeps the district on pace with revenue from previous years, $13.47 million in 2018 and $13.69 million in 2017.

On the expenditures side of the budget, $13.1 million was spent this fiscal year from the general fund, compared to $14 million in 2018 and $14.1 million in 2017.

“Our expenditures are decreasing, but our revenue is staying flat,” Klingshirn said.

Food services has seen a decrease in expenditures over the past three years, with $312,000 this fiscal year, $379,000 in 2018 and $399,000 in 2017.

“That’s going to start changing though in the months ahead,” Klingshirn said. “We don’t want to build up too large of a balance in food service, just because the only thing we can spend that money on is food service.

“We do have a couple of individuals that dedicate a portion or a lot of their time to the food service program, so we’ll move their salaries and benefits to the food service fund to try and bring that balance down a bit. Expenditures (in the food service fund) will be increasing the rest of the year.”

Additionally, all funds are seeing a decrease in expenditures, dropping from $15.66 million in 2017 to $14.37 million this fiscal year.

“It’s not so much that we’re increasing the revenue, it’s just we’re able to spend a little bit less,” Klingshirn said.

The district collected $70,000 more in investments for this fiscal year, totaling $189,250.

Through the month of January, the district collected $12.25 million in general fund revenue, compared to $12.2 million in fiscal year 2018 and $12 million in 2017.