Trustees Review Proposed Budget Kimberly Epler ENCINITAS - The Board of Trustees of the Encinitas Union School District School District got a glance Tuesday at the district's preliminary $27.9 million budget for the 1999-2000 school year. Superintendent Doug DeVore and Chief Financial Officer Sharon South cautioned trustees that the numbers are subject to change until a state budget is passed. The district serves more than 5,000 students at elementary schools in Encinitas and south Carlsbad. A majority of the proposed $27.9 million, $22.8 million or 81.4 percent, would go toward salaries and benefits for district employees. Salaries for teachers and administrators would make up $15.4 million, or 54.8 percent, of district spending. The salaries of classified personnel - such as teaching assistants, cafeteria workers or maintenance workers - comprise $3.08 million, or 11 percent of the preliminary budget. Benefits total 15.6 percent of estimated costs, or $4.3 million. The remaining $5.1 million would be divided among books and supplies, $1.7 million or 6.4 percent; services and other operating costs, $3.05 million or 11 percent; capital outlay, $57,029 or 0.2 percent; and other expenditures, $297,333 or 1.06 percent. State, federal and local income to the district is estimated at $27.9 million, leaving a projected shortfall of $24,360 between expenses and revenue. The difference would be close with money from district reserves. District officials said the district preliminary spending plans are conservative because estimating the budget is a guessing game until a state budget is passed. A majority of the district's funding comes from the state and is based or student attendance. Nearly 70 percent, or $19.1million, of the district's estimated revenue will be based on student attendance. Federal funds will likely comprise 2.4 percent, or $676,563. Other state and local money, such as grants or rental fees for use of district property, would make up $7.9 million, or 28.4 percent, of the proposed budget. Under the preliminary budget, the district would maintain a reserve balance of $1.8 million, or 6.6 percent of projected expenditures. The state requires school districts to maintain a minimum reserve of 4 percent of expenditures. In other business, the Board heard from two parents of special education students who voiced concerns about the district's compliance with state and federal requirements for providing services to students with special needs. This was the parents' third appearance at a district board meeting. One parent submitted a list of questions she would like answered. The parent also said special education parents would continue to attend board meetings until they feel their concerns are being heard. Superintendent DeVore said the questions would be given to the district's attorney and the district would meet parent requests depending on availability of the information. Approved applications for two grants, one for staff development in technology and another for programs for gifted students. |
