J-M board approves tentative budget with level taxes
JEFFERSON – The Jefferson-Morgan School Board approved a $10.7 million tentative 2004-2005 budget Monday that calls for no tax increase. According to business manager Michael Conte, the budget for the upcoming school year is $286,000 higher than the current $10.4 million budget. He said Superintendent Dr. Charles Rembold and board members have worked to trim an estimated $400,000 in expenses to avoid raising taxes.
“This is a barebones budget,” he said. “There’s no room for anything over what is budgeted.”
Conte has estimated the district to take in $3,491,440 in local revenue, $6,658,389 in state funds and $583,121 in federal funds, with almost $4.8 million of the revenue to be spent on instructional programs. Another million will be allocated for learning support, while $750,874 will be spent to pay down the district’s debt.
Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed a 2.5-percent increase in the basic education subsidy for the 2004-2005 school year, an amount that Conte said will help the district cover the cost increases in health insurance and contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System.
The district will spend approximately $137,500 from the capital reserve account for a number of proposed purchases, including a new accounting software upgrade, 30 computers, a wrestling mat, fences for the baseball and softball fields, and a new marquee in front of the high school.
Conte said 1 mill will equal approximately $128,000 in revenue and the property tax rate is proposed to stay at its present 20.3111 mills. Under the Greene County assessment ratio, a homeowner will pay $200.31 if his or her home is valued at $10,000. If the home is valued at $100,000 the homeowner would pay $2,003.10.
Conte said the board will review the spending plan prior to the board’s June 21 meeting, when the spending plan is slated for adoption.
“There’s no fluff in this budget,” he said.
“Spending will have to be held to the line to make this budget work.”
The board also approved the tentative athletic fund budget of $13,000 and the tentative cafeteria fund budget of $499,237.