JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School district is facing yet another major challenge with its annual operating budget.
Tuesday night Jamestown School Superintendent Deke Kathman and assistance Superintendent for Administration Dale Weatherlow updated the school board on the 2013-14 budget process and where the school stands in regards to anticipated state funding. The two pointed out that while the district is scheduled to receive nearly $1,390,000 in additional education aid under the governor’s proposed 2013-14 state budget, it’s also set see several other sources of aid drop significantly – including building aid – and the district is now projected to receive just over $52,510,000 in state funding for next year. That’s $3,880,000 less than what it is getting this school year.
“We were taken quite by surprise and immediately set out on our investigation to see what was true, especially inside that building aid number,” explained District Superintendent Deke Kathman. “We’re still investigating and have hope that it’s not as bad as it looks at the moment, but we won’t know that for a couple of weeks, probably.”
Kathman said when it comes to building aid, the district is set to see receive $6,900,000 in funding from the state for next year. That’s about $4,380,000 lower than what it is getting this current year, despite the fact it’s building debt for next year will only be $775,000 lower than what it is this year.
Kathman said he and Weatherlow are not talking with state officials to see if that gap can be closed, but adds it may be a challenge, but he is optimistic.
“That’s a big nut to crack,” Kathman said, adding, ” But I’m hopeful that there is some resolution between our review of the building aid circumstance and our prospects of realizing some additional revenue through [The Governor’s] fiscal stabilization vehicle. I’m hopeful that will be okay, but it’s too early to tell.”
Weatherlow told board members that the reason there is a shortage in building aid is due to the state’s funding cycle being different than the districts – so while the state is supposed to cover nearly the full cost of the district’s building debt for next year (over 98 percent), the actual funding it is set to receive is closer to only 75 percent of the cost. That, combined with over a $900,000 reduction in BOCES funding for the district, is why it may be facing such a large budget gap.
Both Kathman and Weatherlow hope to have an update for the board by its next meeting on Feb. 19. The school board is required to complete next year’s school budget no later than April 26, so that it can be put up for a public vote in May.
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