Maries R-1 state revenue in June much lower than usual

Budget built with reduced revenue numbers

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 7/23/20

VIENNA — State revenue received by the Maries R-1 School District was very much reduced during June as the county, state and nation reacted to the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the …

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Maries R-1 state revenue in June much lower than usual

Budget built with reduced revenue numbers

Posted

VIENNA — State revenue received by the Maries R-1 School District was very much reduced during June as the county, state and nation reacted to the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the economy.

At the June school board meeting, Superintendent Mark Parker told the board members the school district June revenues were “drastically lower than usual” as there was a Covid-19 reduction during the month.

Formula/CTF revenue in June was $62,768.95, a downturn of $49,829.31 on the two-year average. In comparison, in May the district’s Formula/CTF revenue was $97,664.07 and in April it was $115,695.32.

Prop C revenue was down also at $36,575.28, a reduction for the month of $6,429.37 on the two-year average. There was no transportation revenue at all for June. Normally the school district receives about $6,800 a month in transportation revenue. In May that number slipped to $2,536. In April it was $6,900.

Parker said there is uncertainty about what July revenues will look like or how deep the cuts will be.

He reported June electricity expenses of $4,528.19. Total electricity expenses for the July to June fiscal year were $51,872.52, a reduction of about $8,000 from the previous year. Parker said the three-year average cost of electricity is $62,509.61. He said the energy saving LED lighting project is saving the district money.   

During June there was a propane purchase of $8,191.56. The total spent in propane during the fiscal year was $32,857.02 on a contract with Lock’s Mill at $0.89 per gallon.

As board members looked over the bills, Board Vice President Penny Schoene asked about a $8,925 bill from Springfield Public School. Parker said it was for the virtual Spanish classes during the 2019-2020 school year. Maries R-1 was unable to obtain a Spanish teacher and used the virtual classes instead.

Board member Cindy Petershagen questioned the $12,300 bill from the Maries County Clerk for the June election as she thought is was high. Board member Mike Kleffner said the school district was “about the only thing on it.” Parker said it generally is about $6,000. It was noted the bill is figured according to the number of potential voters in the school district. On the June election ballot, Maries R-1 had both a school board member election and it successfully asked district voters for a bond issue to make safety and other needed improvements on the campus.

Other expenses in the listing of bills included $9,562.50 to St. Elizabeth School District for tuition for two students. Also, 21 VHS seniors received a $1,438.67 senior trip refund/scholarship. The board approved payment of the bills.

In other business at the June R-1 School Board meeting:

• The board members approved the proposed budget for the 2020-2021 school year. Parker said he did research and said he based the budget on paying all necessary bills. It does not include supplies, and expenses such as game referees. There is much unknown.

The information received from the county assessor shows personal property tax up and real estate tax down. In the budget he leaving the taxes the same as last year.

Prop C revenues he estimated at $400,000, down about $25,000 from last year. He budgeted Formula/CTF revenue at $1,110,000. Last year actual Formula/CTF revenue was $1,265,494.23.

He used $6,125 as the district’s ADA number, a reduction from $6,250 last year. He said he can always made adjustments if the number is higher. If the district is fully funded, it will add $130,000 more but Parker said he does not anticipate that. The budget is based on cautious numbers, which he calculated all lower. There is a .7100 percent drop in revenue for each drop of $25 million by the state. He hopes 11 months later the money will be made up at the end.

For expenses, he’s hoping there will be one less propane shipment. Also, there will be no step increases for teacher salaries. They did do the increases in salary for education, but no vertical increase in the salary schedule.

• G&W Foods received the milk bid. The local grocery store was cheaper and the board members wanted to keep business local. There was only one bidder on the milk bid.

The board accepted the propane bid from Lock’s Mill of $0.84. It was $0.89 for the last school year by the same provider.

Parker recommended the tuition rate be set at $5,500 per student. Last year it was $6,375.

• The board approved a new spending plateau for Parker on the band room project currently underway. They moved the spending plateau from $3,500 to $5,000, which will allow him to select bids without the board’s approval. Parker said he will take the low bid. Schoene said he should take the lowest and the best bid.