H.G. district approves $12.5M budget
by Steven Ottman Review Correspondent
HOWARDS GROVE – The School Board has received approval of the 2009-10 budget with a total fund expenditure of $12,481,283 for the 2009-10 school year at its annual meeting Monday, Sept. 19.
The total general fund expenditure is estimated to be $10,163,506.
Estimated state aid numbers for 2009-10 are $6,255,033, a decrease of 0.6 percent.
Enrollment for the school year, based on the count in the third week in September, is 950 students. This gives a three-year average of 966, which is used to figure the revenue cap.
With an estimated base per member of $9,788.05 multiplied by the estimated average of students, the estimated revenue cap would be $9,462,499, an increase of 2.27 percent.
The estimated revenue cap minus the state aid projects a $3,128,873 general fund levy.
The proposed debt service levy is $1,067,970 and when this is added to the general fund levy, it projects a total debt levy proposal of $4,196,843.
Board members also received acceptance of the tax levy for 2009-10.
With the debt levy proposal, it is estimated that the owner of a house worth $100,000 would pay $9.07 per thousand or $907.
New business included the approval of nine resolutions: 1) To fix salaries of the School Board members. 2) To authorize a hot lunch program. 3) Authorizing audit of books and related financial affairs of the district.
4) Authorizing bus service for the children.
5) Authorizing the School Board to borrow money in the form of short-term loans. A short-term borrowing agreement was approved for up to $500,000 for operating purposes.
6) Designating a public depository and authorizing withdrawal of school district monies. The board designated The National Exchange Bank and Trust, 211 N. Wisconsin Drive, Howards Grove, as a qualified public depository.
7) To fix the number of days school shall be held during the school term. The length of the school term should consist of 190 days, including 180 school days.
8) Authorizing the School Board to sell personal property no longer needed by the school district.
9) Authorizing the School Board to set the date of the annual meeting.
In the regular monthly board meeting, the high school winter concert and fundraiser was changed to the Stefanie Weill Center in Sheboygan. The concert will be held Sunday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. with a $10 ticket charge for adults and $5 for children to attend.
Staff member Ruth Madden gave a report on the Education for Employment. Madden stated that five students are currently enrolled.
“We make the students aware of career choices and help them prepare for life beyond their education at Howards Grove,” Madden said.
Board members accepted the report.
Food Service manager Nancy Cherney has submitted a retirement request and was approved with regrets by the board members.
Board President Jeff Elzinga was appointed delegate for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Convention to be held in Milwaukee, Jan. 20-22, 2010. Kim Plass was appointed as alternate.
The board members approved final designation of $2,642,454.71 fund balance as related to the 2008-09 school budget.
Elzinga thanked the Millersville Recreation Department, Howards Grove Boosters and Howards Grove Athletic Club for donations received toward the construction of the mezzanine wall project.
