•September 30, 2015•

By Derek Pope
Reporting from Bethany

During their September regular meeting, Okaw Valley’s board of education will vote on whether or not to confirm their 2015-2016 school year fiscal budget. Prior to the meeting, the board held a public hearing to notify the public and field discussion of the budget in its entirety, as well as matters related to the increase or decrease in its ending balance.

Previously the News Progress reported that Okaw Valley’s “final estimated ending budget” for the 2014-2015 would end with a roughly $145,000 deficit—this turned out to not be true. In fact, the district’s final budget ended up in the positive as of its closing date on June 30. Its four major operating funds totaled roughly $4,896,000 versus the approximately $4,528,000 it started with, entailing an actual surplus of almost $380,000. Okaw Valley’s previous tentative budget did not include revenue accrued as of June 30 for operating funds budgeted for but not used during the 2014-2015 school year. The entirety of the budget voted on this month will “not be the same” as the district’s ending budget though according to Okaw Valley superintendent Kent Stauder, “due to the rising cost of salary, insurance, and capital projects.” Following the board of education’s vote, the complete 2015-2016 budget will be made available to the public and posted on the district’s website.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.