Gravette board reviews proposed 2020-21 budget

GRAVETTE — Dennis Kurczek, business manager for the School District, and Maribell Childress, superintendent, met Aug. with the School Board to explain budgeting strategy. Kurczek said he looked at three-year averages in all accounts to determine trends and tried to plan for reaching the superintendent’s goals.

The total operating budget he’s proposing amounts to a grand total of $16,043,781.

Kurczek said state money and local tax money are up. State money, on a per-pupil basis, increased 2% from the previous year. The the state pay $7,018 for each student, an increase of $119. The total tax assessment increased 3.4% from the previous year, with a total assessed property value of $314,552,330. Total tax collection at 39.7 mills is estimated to be $12,487,714. Total revenue for the district from state money and tax dollars, including $45,000 in estimated miscellaneous revenue, is expected to be $17,843,934.

Salaries and benefits for school staff members are a major expenditure. Total certified staff salaries for 2020-21 are projected to be $8,810,595 and classified staff salaries are projected to be $2,646,222. Both certified staff and classified staff members were given a 2.% increase in base pay (including step) for the year.

Childress said the employee list is down seven classified staff members now and a bus driver has recently resigned.

The shortened 2019-20 school year resulted in some savings, Kurczek said. The Transportation Department came in under its $107,500 fuel budget with $80,453 in expenditures. The 2020-21 budget for fuel was set at $107,500. Outlays for utilities were significantly lower than budgeted for the shortened 2019-20 school year with a budget of $559,500 and actual expenditures of $484,729. Natural gas and disposal/ sanitation came in slightly over budget, but electricity and water/sewer were under budget by 17% and 33% respectively. Overall, utilities came in 13.4% under budget.

A school bus was purchased in July for $99,871, with $38,932 coming from the declining enrollment fund and $61,039 coming from the enhanced transportation fund.

Federal money and student growth money have been used to buy textbooks, to the extent possible, Kurczek said, so no operating money has been earmarked for textbooks.

Kurczek said budgeting is an ongoing process with a goal to produce the most accurate projections for fiscal years. He said his figures are designed to help guide the board’s decision in approving the portion of the budget relating to the general operating fund.

The deadline for submitting the district’s overall budget to the state is Sept. 30.