By Harlan Kirgan
Editor
OPELOUSAS — The St. Landry Parish School Board approved a budget that projects a $2 million general fund deficit that will erode the school system’s ending balance from $7 million to about $5 million.
The 2018-2019 budget was approved on a voice vote at a meeting Thursday. The budget year began July 1.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins attributed the budget deficit to several factors including the loss of students, salary increases and rising insurance costs.
Salary step increases in the next budget are costing $700,000 to $800,000, he said.
The school system may lose from 200 to 250 students this year, which reduces the amount of state funding, he said.
Jenkins said staffing reductions by attrition may help the budget balance. There were 59 recent retirees, he said.
Every 15 teachers cost the school system about $1 million, he said.
Albert Hayes Jr., of Eunice, was among the Board members who mulled over the budget situation.
“I think we need to direct our Board, our superintendent, to present us a budget that is without a deficit and we need to see that next year. We need to see a balanced budget going forward,” Hayes said.
“I can’t explain to my people when asked how we are down $2 million and we are about to OK it. Let’s look to figure a balanced budget going forward,” he said.
In a preface to the budget, changes noted were:
— Decrease of Minimum Foundation Program (state funding) of $1.5 million due to lower enrollment.
— $100,000 increase in retirement contributions.
— $145,000 increase in insurance costs.
— $300,000 decrease in textbook allocation.
— Utilize $100,000 in tobacco investment funds to buy Chromebooks for a Tier 1 curriculum.
— $59,000 to hire two guidance counselors.
— Decrease of $131,000 for English Language Learners instructor cost.
— Decrease home instruction instructor cost by $145,000.
— Decrease special education substitute costs by $200,000.
— $82,000 to hire a sales tax auditor and collector.
— Decrease maintenance costs $690,000. Remove $457,000 in Plaisance flood costs.
— Decrease Christmas stipend by $1,152,750.
The budget projects total general revenues of $104.5 million and expenses of $116.9 million, but the bottomline is boosted by the transfer of other funds, particularly $10.9 million from a salary fund financed by a 1 percent sales tax.
The budget shows the deficit in the general fund is expected to be $2,077,499. The previous budget projected a general fund deficit of about $1.7 million.
However, Tressa Miler, finance director, said after the meeting that the 20127-2018 budget ended up balanced.
The school system’s general fund beginning balance is $7.2 million and the next budget year’s beginning balance is projected to be $5.1 million.
Board member Raymond Cassimere said, “We are constantly going back to where we have been, which is the school system is in a deficit.”
Cassimere also said, “This makes our second year we would be going into what, the red.”
Donnie Perron, a Port Barre School Board member, said, “This past year we are in deficit. Overall, we are not. We have money. When we make decisions like giving stipends, new curriculum, hiring new employees … and we have less students so we are getting less money so we are going to show a deficit. What I’m concerned about is the recommendation from the superintendent … how do we go forward and not be in this situation next year and the following year?”
Eunice Board member Mary Ellen Donatto said 87 percent of the budget goes to payroll.
“I can’t see anything else, I know nobody wants to hear that. I know that doesn’t sound good. I, as an individual Board member, I don’t see any anything else we can take away. I don’t if it is a lack of knowledge on my part. Is there something I’m not understanding, but I do know that 13 percent of $140 million is left over to do things we need to do other than pay employees,” she said.
Kyle Boss, a southern St. Landry Parish Board member, said, “We need to quit dragging our feet. We need to get together to close some schools. That’s the bottom line. That’s the only way we are going to save money.”
Boss also urged the superintendent to develop a plan for closing and consolidating schools by February 2019.
In March, parish voters rejected bond issues that would have paid for school employee raises and a building program.
After the defeat, the Board failed to approve a plan to close and consolidate schools without a building program.
The total budget for the school system is revenues of $142,148,619 and expenditures of $146,799,490. The budget includes the general, special revenue and capital projects funds.
Also at the meeting, Jenkins announced that the school system will begin running the parish Head Start program, which as about 700 students and $7.5 million in federal funding.