Members of the Jamestown School board listen to Finance Director Vern Connors (far left) as he provides details and options to consider for the 2018-19 school budget during the board’s budget work session in March 2018.
JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown School Board will finalize the 2018-19 School Budget when it meets Tuesday night, April 17, at the school administration building on Martin Road.
The tentative budget includes $86.23 million in spending, with nearly 79 percent of the revenue coming from state aid, while nearly 19 percent – or $14.64 million dollars – would come from the tax levy.
The tentative budget keeps programming pretty much the same as it is for this school year, with officials saying they will revamp school program in the 2019-2020 school year. In the meantime, this year’s budget will focus on reducing the district’s debt, as well as long-term playing by replenishing and stabilizing various funds, as well as establishing a $2 million fund to help pay for the local share of future capital expense projects.
The board will also consider whether or not to provide a slight reduction of 1 percent or even 0.5 percent on the property tax levy. Some board members have said it’s something they want to see happen, but it didn’t appear there was a clear consensus for a tax decrease during last week’s board meeting and budget discussion.
School superintendent Bret Apthorpe has said he and his staff will crunch the numbers and present them to the school board during tonight’s meeting to help come to a decision on the tax reduction question. The board and administration have already said there will be no tax increase.
Once a budget is finalized and approved, it will be presented during a public hearing on May 8. The public will get to vote on the budget on May 15.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.
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