The St. Landry Parish School Board’s budget deliberations began with a message the school system should expect a $1.1 million loss in sales tax revenue.
In a teleconference meeting Wednesday, Tressa Miller, finance director, said the budgeted sales tax loss is due to COVID-19 with the General Fund and Employee Compensation and Benefit Fund each expected to be down $550,000.
The school budget also projects a decrease in enrollment that will cost the school system $1.5 million in state support.
Another virus expenses is to increase substitute pay from $44 to $51 at total cost of $100,000.
The budget includes another virus costs, but it is from a computer hacking incident last year that shut the school system’s computers down. Two computer technicians are to be hired at a total cost of $83,000.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first of three reviews for the Board. The others will be held July 8 and July 15. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled July 27 and the adoption is planned at the Aug. 6 Board meeting.
The school system’s budget year is July through June.
The current year’s budget includes revenues of $122.4 million in the General Fund and $31.7 million in its Special Revenue Fund. Instruction expenses total $94.9 million and support services are $49.6 million.
The total balance of funds at the beginning of the year were $25.9 million and the end balance is projected at $22.4 million.
The 2020-2021 budget is clouded by the unknown impact of the coronavirus.
The $1.5 million loss in state Minimum Foundation aid is expected from a drop in enrollment. The school system receives about $8,400 per student in state aid per student. The February enrollment number was 12,965, according to the State Department of Education.
The state Minimum Foundation aid is budgeted at $74.1 million next year, down from $75.6 million this year.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins said it is expected the school system will lose 200 to 300 students annually in the next five years.
The shutdown of classrooms this year and the use of remote learning may impact the next school year’s enrollment.
Jenkins said the system’s expanded virtual program may draw students back to the public schools.
