Details provided of proposed school district budget

ST. MARYS - The 2021-22 preliminary budget was reviewed in detail during a recent SMASD Board of School Directors meeting. They will continue to review the budget until June then will approve the final budget.

Business Manager Ginger Williams presented a budget consisting of revenue of $28,255,402 and expenses of $29,704,702 with a difference showing a deficit of $1,150,300.

The total revenue of $28,255,402 includes local revenue of $15,822,191, state revenue of $12,132,976 and federal revenue of $599,235.

The total expenses of $29,704,702 encompass salaries totaling $13,035,298, benefits totaling $8,972,892 and other services totaling $3,250,400.

•Local revenue at $15,822,191 consists of a large percentage from real estate taxes totaling $10,906,811, $392,000 from Act 1, $364,000 from real estate collection, $349,000 from the Homestead Act. The change from 2020-21 is 7.2% equal to $1,061,000.

Under the Act 1 index the district can implement a maximum tax increase of 3.8%, equal to 1.29 mills. A median assessed home in the school district at $28,000, could incur an additional tax of $36.12.

•State revenue at $12,132,976 comes from basic revenue of $6,746,727, benefits of $2,700,587, special at $1,309,950 and transportation at $964,517. The change from 2020-21 is 3% equal to $377,000.

•Federal revenue of $599,235 includes medical access totaling $153,000 and title of $446,235. The change from 2020-21 is 8% equal to $52,000.

SMASD has also received Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) of $2,704,497. The first round of ESSER funding was for $253,007 used to purchase Chromebooks and software, of which $153,000 remains. ESSER II funding received by the school district was for $1,135,880 used for virtual instruction, Chromebooks, summer programs, technology and UVC sanitizers. There are $231,000 of available funds remaining from this. The third round of funding was for American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER for $2,320,497 which is ear

marked for alternative education programs and research and development stage. All of this funding remains available.

•Salaries, total

ing $13,035,298, includes regular salaries of $7,216,106, special salaries of $2,099,706, administration at $1,729,600, student support at $1,417,417. The change from 2020-21 is 1% equal to $102,000.

•Benefits, at $8,972,892, include retirement (PSSERS) at $4,421,811, social security at $992,063 and health insurance at $2,676,926. The change from 2020-21 is 1% equal to $83,000.

•Other services

at $3,250,400 include transportation at $1,860,100 and tuition at $925,000. The change from 2020-21 is 9.4% equal to $338,000.

Other expense sections totaling $4,446,112 include professional services at $1,246,650, property service at $1,995,862, supplies at $1,079,850 and other expenses at $123,750. •Professional ser

vices, at $1,246,650, include contracted services for $538,750, social services for $289,200, tax and legal for $175,000 and technical costs at $197,700. The change from 202021 is 0.3%, equal to $4,000.

•Property services,

at $1,995,862, includes building and grounds at $1,820,862. The change from 2020-21 is 1%, equal to $17,000. •Supplies cost total $1,079,850 including software at $283,300, utilities at $372,750 and supplies at $417,800. The change from 2020-21 is 4.5%, equal to $47,000.

•Other objects

cost total $123,750 includes compensatory at $75,000 and dues and fees at $48,750. The change from 2020-21 is 2.5%, equal to $25,000.

During the presentation Williams touched on the restructuring of the school district’s bond debt service.