Harlan Kirgan
The St Landry Parish School Board finished its 2019-2020 fiscal year with a $2,612,450 surplus in its general fund.
Tressa Miller, finance director, delivered the news during the Board’s Finance Committee meeting on Oct. 27.
The financial finish nearly went without comment.
“In case you didn’t hear it clearly here,” said Superintendent Patrick Jenkins. “Last year we were looking at a deficit. It looks right now we are at $2.6 million — that we have a positive balance year. That’s great.”
The Board typically approves budgets that project a deficit. Miller has described the process as looking at worst case scenario.
The same is said of the current budget year that ends in June 2021.
Jenkins said, “As we go into this year we probably have some added expenses. It is good we have this particular balance because even though we always project a negative balance, we may realize it this year because we are seeing a little bit more uncertain things within the schools.
“This year is going to be a little different. We have been cutting, slicing and dicing as much as we can to realize a positive balance, but this year is going to be very difficult with some added expenses even though we have the CARES Act.”
During the meeting, Miller said the school district’s Hurricane Delta damages at the last estimate totaled $1.4 million. FEMA is expected to pay 75% of those damages.
Board member Josh Boudreaux said the $2.6 million general fund surplus “is great.”
He added, “But let’s not forget that payroll — that is not even a third of a payroll a month.”
The current fiscal year general fund budget states revenues of $111 million and expenses of $123.9 million. A transfer of $11.5 million from a sales tax account dedicated for salaries and benefits moves the general fund closer to balanced, but the budget projects a deficit of $1.8 million.
Later in the meeting, the committee wrestled with giving employees an additional $100.
Boudreaux said he commended the idea of the $100 payment, “but we have to see where we are before we start giving.”
The idea behind the $100 payment was from Board member Raymond Cassimere who said the budget included a $650 raise for certified personnel passing their evaluation.
Full-time school employees are to receive a $500 Christmas bonus this month. Part-timers will get $200.