The first hearing of Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s proposed $112.6 million budget drew no comments from the public.
Vaughn Sylva, the district’s assistant superintendent for financial services, presented a review of the school corporation’s 2017 budget Monday night at Southside Middle School. The budget shows about a 1.2 percent increase, which is not expected to change the tax rate.
The proposed budget was first presented Sept. 12 to school board members during a work session.
Revenues for the general fund, used for day-to-day spending and payment of salaries and other expenses, are projected to increase from $72.2 million this year to about $72.9 million in 2017, based on an assumption that district enrollment remains unchanged. Indiana provides education funding for schools based on enrollment, providing a per-student amount to each school district.
General fund expenditures are projected at about $72.8 million for next year, up from $71.8 million in 2016. Sylva said the fund balance was running almost a $1 million surplus as of January, and that could reach $1.9 million by the end of this year.
Increases included in the general fund are attributed to a negotiated 2 percent across-the-board raise for employees and adding five employees, which includes three certified staff members.
A second and final public hearing on the budget is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 24 when the board meets at Taylorsville Elementary School.
