By David Purvis-Fenker
david@nmpaper.com
NORTH MANCHESTER,IN The Manchester Community Schools Board of School Trustees gave permission to advertise their 2016-2017 budget at their August meeting.
Business Manager Scott Bumgardner presented the budget, which totaled $10,217,000. He said that the total for the general fund, which is 100 percent funded through the students, is based off an enrollment of 1,570 students. The district receives funds from the state based on the number of enrolled students.
“We did receive a small increase this year in our per student rate from the state, so we’re in good shape in the general fund,” he said.
Superintendent Bill Reichhart noted that current enrollment is 1,567, but that a final number will not be available until school begins. Bumgardner said that that number close enough to the estimated 1,570 as to not cause issues with the budget as is.
The state estimates giving the school funds totaling $10,215,000.
Outstanding debts for the district total around $13 million. Of that, more than $200,000 is pension debt owed to teachers, both retired and currently employed. This is left over from a benefits package that was discontinued around 13 years ago. The pension debt is scheduled to be paid off in the next two years. While the pension debt does not detract from the district’s general fund, it does hinder other areas.
“That payment has to come from somewhere, and as you know in the past it’s come from our bus replacement fund,” Bumgardner said.
He noted that the district was unable to replace any buses last year due to the pension debt, and said that he believes the district will need to purchase a bus within the next two years. When the budget is formally presented to the board, Bumgardner will offer options other than the bus replacement fund including drawing from other funds or leasing buses.
Other debt is set to be fully paid off by 2025.
Overall, the budget as will be advertised is around $400,000 less than last year’s budget. Part of that decrease is due to more exact estimations from the state, particularly for the capital projects fund (CPF).
“If you look at our budget, it’s built $400,000 less than what I proposed to you last year, and that’s just because they gave us a little more information,” Bumgardner said.
A collective bargaining agreement for the 2016-2017 school year was also approved at the meeting. This included raising the starting salary for new teachers to $35,350, and provided for a $1,000 total raise for current teachers, including a $100 stipend.
Additionally, hourly employees of the district who were employed last year and are employed again this year can expect a $350 stipend.
The board approved an agreement to grant an easement to the Town of North Manchester to create a driveway on school property to access a building next to the Strauss-Peabody Aquatic and Fitness Center, and also approved a public hearing to be held at their September meeting regarding the sale of Maple Park in North Manchester.