Not one Emporia school district patron showed up for a public budget workshop Wednesday evening in the Mary Herbert Education Center.
Board members were surprised that no one from the public was present; however, they gave an overview of budget figures that had been discussed at an earlier meeting.
Board members have held a local mill levy increase to 1.77 mills, which would add a total of $6,147 to property taxes and would be split among all property-taxpayers within the Emporia school district.
A decrease in property valuations of approximately 3.3 percent is responsible for the minimal increase per taxpayer.
The district last year asked for 49.201 mills, or $8,361,149 from property taxes. This year, the mill levy is 50.973, which will generate $8,367,296.
Superintendent John Heim said earlier that the lowered property valuations this year are a contrast from previous years, when valuations went up and school levies remained approximately flat.
“Now the opposite has happened and people are confused,” he said in the earlier interview. “The ratio works both ways. If your valuation goes down and your mill levy goes up, you’re going to raise about the same amount of taxes.
“What we’ve had is just 180 degrees this year from what we had. … It’s not surprising that people are having trouble understanding this.”
Assistant Superintendent of Business Rob Scheib went through a PowerPoint presentation that showed comparisons of last year’s allotments and budgets, estimates of monies for students for which the state pays “weighted,” or additional funds, and other considerations that affect the district’s budget.
The district budget, after anticipated allotments are received, is $30,740,784, or $30,442 less than the $30,771,226 of the previous school year, which was based on a 98 percent “floor” the legislature guaranteed to the district because of downsizing at Tyson Fresh Meats. The floor was intended to buoy the district, in case student enrollment decreased dramatically.
Estimates of student losses continue to be difficult to define. Officials estimate that up to 100 more students could be loss from the district when official enrollment figures are determined by the state in the fall.
Considering formal approval of the budget is on the agenda for the Aug. 12 school board meeting.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
i think the reason most people do not come is that they think that they are being hoodwinked and there is nothing they can do about it. there has been more inflation in education than any thing you can imagine. in 1962 the cost for 16 hours at emporia state was 75 dollars.
August 5, 2009 at 9:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KellyG (anonymous) says...
Unfortunately, the cost of education has had to increase dramatically due to the irresponsible actions of the elected officials in KS and their refusal to take fiscal responsibility for the future generations in KS. Make sure you thank those you voted for in Topeka, for the fact that your property taxes are increasing and fellow friends in education are losing their jobs or being forced to retire. Also be prepared for another three yr court battle with the state and school districts because of the fact that the state is refusing to provide mandated funding. So when the representatives come and ask for your support remind them of this coming school year and ask them why they are refusing to fund public education in the state of KS and ask them how public schools are supposed to take fiscal responsibility when we are funded by them and we already make numerous cuts and do with far less to educate and prepare the future of KS.
August 5, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Why not take a look at the budget itself. Reductions have been made, yes, but every single agency in this entire country is having to make severe budget cuts. Will teachers be asking for salary increases this year? Can we make do for a little while longer?
Here's a small taste of what's on the budget. The link to all of it follows:
FY 2010 Budget
What Passed: HB 2354 (Mega Appropriations Bill)
Under current law, school districts were to receive an increase of $142 million in FY 2010, which includes
funding special education at 92 percent ($33.7 million), KPERS employee contributions ($32.8 million), state aid for
capital improvements ($10 million) and capital outlay ($3 million), plus a $59 base increase already approved by the
2008 Legislature and a total increase in state aid (excluding special education) at least equal to the previous year’s
increase in the consumer price index. HB 2354 reduces general state aid from the lower FY 2009 base of $4,400 by
an additional $33 (a total of $42 million), and reduces special education aid by $4.5 million, or 1 percent. However,
the bill uses $138.7 million from federal stimulus funding to offset state funding for general state aid, and
$53.5 million in federal special education aid from stimulus funding to offset state special education. Federal
stimulus funds expire in FY 2012.
What Passed: HB 2373 (Omnibus Appropriations Bill)
The bill further reduces general state aid. In addition, based on legislative intent, capital outlay aid is eliminated
for FY 2010 and those funds transferred to general state aid. The result is an estimated base budget per pupil of
$4,280, a total reduction of $120 from the adjusted FY 2009 level; $153 from the original FY 2009 level; and $212
from the $59 increase approved for FY 2010 last session. No capital outlay state aid will be provided.
KASB Position/Action: Supports funding based on actual costs of education to meet student outcomes.
Testified before the House Education Budget Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee on the
Kansas State Department of Education.
http://www.kasb.org/legis/2009/09Legi...
August 6, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
reddog, in 1966, I paid a little over $3,000 for a one-year old Mustang GT. Times have changed, haven't they?
August 6, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
That's it! Emporia needs at least one whale, for now. Until we can get one per school. The only question is, should it be at the zoo or at the visitor center/kiosk/parking lot? Let's get the detalis hammered out and get this thing done! Perhaps we can get some stimulus package monies to fund it. I got dibs on naming the whale ................ William Allen Whale! Oh yeah!
Seriously R. Folks
August 8, 2009 at 12:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )