•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan District 300 school board members approved a $10,043,969 total budget at the Monday, Sept. 14 meeting.

The fiscal budget year is July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 with Superintendent Brad Tuttle explaining the process during a public hearing on the budget.

“With the state still struggling with their budget, we are looking at the third year of some type of cuts.” Tuttle said, noting that contingencies are built into the budget in case things start to go south.

He said the district is starting the year in better shape with account balances but warned that declining enrollment will equalize the increased state reimbursement formula.

Educational fund receipts from local taxes are anticipated at $2,975,199. The state contribution is expected at $3,266,267 with the federal government budgeted for $876,016, bringing anticipated fund total for education to $7,117,482.

Even with a $50,000 contingency, education expenses are anticipated at $7,3034,134, some $185,652 less than the fund is bringing in. An account balance of $2,985,659 covers the shortage in education.

Operations and maintenance and transportation funds also are budgeted in the red.

Superintendent Tuttle explained the budget is a working document and will be revised as more information is available during the year.

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