Harlan Kirgan
The St. Landry Parish School Board approved its budget that includes a $991,000 deficit in the general fund.
The 2019-2020 budget was approved at the July 11 meeting with a lone “no” vote by Hazel Sias, an Opelousas Board member. Board member Josh Boudreaux was absent.
The budget was first presented in meetings held in June.
Tressa Miller, finance director, said the budget includes the $1,000 raise for certified employees and $500 raise for non-certified employees, which are funded by the state.
The Board also approved language that stipulates full-time employee will receive a $500 Christmas bonus. Part-time employees are to receive a $200 Christmas bonus.
Employees also are getting a 10 cent increase in their mileage reimbursement to 46 cents per mile.
The school system’s total expenditures are projected at $151.6 million with revenues of $150.4 million.
In June, Miller said there is enough uncertainty in the school system’s revenue that the budget indicates a negative balance.
“This should be the worst case scenario. Again we try to be conservative. We may be able to reduce more staff with the closing of the schools,” she said.
Miller said the budget includes a $1.5 million reduction in the state--paid Minimum Foundation Program due to lower enrollment.
The deadline to adopt a budget and send it to the state is Sept. 15.
The primary budget categories are General Fund, Special Revenue Fund and Capital Projects Fund.
The General Fund, which is the largest, expenditures for 2019-2010 includes $74.3 million for instruction and $40.7 million for support services. The general revenues are projected at $117.4 million.
The General Fund has a beginning balance of $18.9 million and an ending balance of $17.9 million.
The total of all the funds beginning balance is $24.3 million and a ending balance of $23.1 million.
Highlight of changes for 2019-2020 year listed in the budget are:
— Decrease in MFP of ($1,500,000) due to decreasing student trend.
— Increase in MFP of $1,900,000 for pay raises.
— Increase in salaries and benefits expense of ($1,900,000).
— Increase in retirement contributions by 1.4 percent LSE ($87,000) and decrease by 0.7 percent TRSL $27,000.
— Increase in health insurance costs by 5.5 percent effective 1/1/20.
Active employees - ($280,000).
Retired Employees - ($270,000).
— Decrease in maintenance costs of $560,000 – Eunice Elementary fire/flood costs removed.
Decrease in insurance proceeds of ($600,000).
— Increase in travel reimbursement rate by $0.10 to $0.46/mile - ($40,000).
— New sales tax software purchase - ($86,000).
— 2014 Bus lease purchase paid off (35 buses)- reduction in bond payments $540,000.
Purchase five new buses and cameras ($540,000).
— New fingerprinting machine purchase - ($20,000).