Budget Analysis of School System

¶ … Budget

Analysis of School System Budget

The following analysis concerns a School District Budget that has to receive recommendations from the Budget Committee but also the school board in regards to appropriations for the coming school year. The following questions are raised regarding the proposed budget:

What dollar amount and percentage of increase/decrease is recommended in the area of student transportation? What were the expenditures in column 4 and compare with the School Board recommendations in column 6?

There is a recommended increase in the school transportation line of $242,758.97 that represents a 47.26% increase. The expenditures for the year in this category were $513,654.03 and the recommendation by the board for the coming year is $756,413. Appropriations for the prior year were $815,164, significantly lower than what was spent. The transportation department has cut costs somewhere, even in the face of higher fuel prices.

What is the total dollar amount in debt service including principal and interest as recommended by the Budget Committee?

The total for all debt service is $1,115,463, which is reduced from the actual current year amount of $1,194,129, a reduction of $78,666. The School Board and Budget Committee are in exact agreement on this figure. It is certainly a bond that has fixed interest amounts that are precisely calculated for the budget.

3. Did the school board recommend the Budget Committees appropriation for Special Programs? Was the School Board recommendation and increase or decrease from the Budget Committees recommendation? And if so how much?

The Budget Committee proposed $2,291,329 allotted to special programs while the School Board recommended apparitions in the amount of $2,299,406. This is an increase of $28,080, which figure appears in column 9 as not recommended by the budget committee.

4. What are the results for food service concerning the expenditures for the year 05-06 as compared to the approved appropriations for that year?

The appropriation for food service costs for the school year was $499,574 and actual cost exceeded this by $22,999.34 coming in at $522,573.34, an increase of 46%. It appears that the School Board and Budget Committee are aware of some rising increase, also probably due to fuel surcharges tacked on the bills for delivery, and have allocated a proportionately increased amount.

5. What are the top 3 in monetary costs for capital improvement projects recommended for the ensuing fiscal year?

The top 3 costs for Special Warrant Articles for the upcoming budget are: The GMS site de-watering study (including design and cost) at $86,000, GMS/LMS safety locks and video surveillance at $56,431 and finally LMS Emergency Access Road at $44,000.

6. Excluding food service sales what are the top 3 revenue budget lines for the year 05/06?

The top three revenue line for the school year were: Federal Program Grant at $239,042, State School Building Aid at $238,392.16 and revenue from Other Local Sources at $165,049.

7. What is the total dollar amount for appropriations recommended by the School Board?

The total amount recommended by the School Board for the upcoming year is $19,514,314. This includes the $259,854 appropriated to Special Warrant Articles as well as the $19,254,460 appropriated for all School and Administrative Services and Outlays.

8. What dollar amount and decrease or increase is this over the current adopted budget?

This is an increase of $1,738,437, which is 9.87% over the current budget.