School Board holds public hearing on proposed budgets

The Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education will be adopting a budget at its June 26 meeting that necessitates dipping into the fund balance for $2,218,664 to balance the budget.
An hour-long public hearing on the budget was held Monday at the administration building.
The revenue for 2017-18 is expected to be $49,827,096 and the expenditures $52,045,760.
This will decrease the fund balance from today’s $7,463,958 to an estimated $5,321,135 by the end of the 2017-18 school year.
Of the fund balance, $2,206,392 is reserved as: replace football turf, $350,000; enrollment reserve (50), $388,950; and SCRESA Enhancement Millage, $1,467,442.
One of the budget assumptions is that the district will lose 50 full-time equivalent students, which would be a loss of $388,950 in foundation allowance from the state, said Finance Director Shareen Barker.
School Supt. Pete Kudlak said Plante Moran has predicted a 38 elementary student increase this year and Plante Moran has been very accurate over the years. But, he said, the current Kindergarten enrollment is not as high as last year and the district lost over 150 students. He said about 330 students graduated.
He and Barker agreed the district will have a better idea of the actual financial situation with the November budget after the student count in the fall.
Barker showed figures that reflect how from the blended student count of 5,718 in the 2009-10 school year to that of 4,699 in 2016-17, the district lost a total of $9,681,368.
The district’s highest student count was 6,358 in 2006-07.
Expenditure additions in the new budget include the Belleville High School police radio booster at $41,441 and McBride Road paving at $90,000.
Also, other expenditure increases include health benefit increase (between 6-14%) at $514,580, negotiated increases, $1,191,000; and staffing adjustments $1,035,300.
The property tax millage rates expected to be approved for the 2017-18 school year are:
• State Education Tax – 6 mills
• Ad Valorem (operating) – 18 mills
• Commercial Personal Property – 6 mills
• Debt Retirement – 2.98 mills
• Building and Site Sinking – 0.4959 mills
The school board will vote on the budgets and millages during its regular meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, June 26.