By Jolene Farley
After presenting the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board with 2002-03 budget numbers at Monday's meeting, Superintendent Dave Deragisch warned this will be a close budget year.
"It will be real tight," he said. "We have to hope for a warm winter and nothing breaking down."
The proposed budget for the 2002-03 school year is $2,926,881. Budget revenues total $2,933,277, leaving a cushion of $6,396.31 for unexpected expenses.
The 2001-02 budget was $2,697,849. Deragisch attributed this year's budget increase to salary increases for certified and non-certified staff.
Increased expenses coupled with levy totals falling below expected amounts caused the crunch.
"We were anticipating nearly $450,000 we would be able to levy for, and when I went to the (levy) meeting it was about $200,000 less than that," Deragisch said.
Last year, the district received $843,000 in levy revenue, but with recent changes made by the state Legislature, this year's total was $342,000.
Another source of revenue for the district, general state aid, is calculated on the number of students. Base revenue for each student is $4,601, weighted according to grade level. The district receives less aid for students in the elementary school than it does for students in high school.
Last year the district received $1,200,000 in general aid; this year's aid is $1,906,942.
"We'll end up OK this year. If it comes down to the end and we have to say 'no' to anything that's asked for, we can do that," Deragisch said.
"A lot of the other school districts have gone to the voters and had them approve an excess levy."
When asked by board member Ann Boeve if anything was cut from the budget that would hurt the students, Deragisch said that hadn't happened but that staff members have saved dollars where they could.
Deragisch used the example of purchasing smaller tabletop model copy machines, saving the district $8,800, rather than purchasing two industrial copy machines for the district.
He cautioned that next year the board might have to look at the possibility of eliminating a teaching position if funding sources don't improve.
"It's going to get tougher to keep things balanced," he said.
The board will meet today to ratify levy amounts.
In other financial business, Deragisch urged the School Board to consider refinancing the 1997 construction bond.
With interest rates at a 35-year low, refinancing at the current rate would save the district $85,900 after fees and fines for early payoff. The bond is due in 2005.
The board instructed Deragisch to begin shopping around for the best rate.
In other board business
Group II Architects, Sioux Falls, has requested to meet with representatives of the board with plans for the new high school locker rooms.
"They have information for us for different styles of locker rooms," Deragisch said. "We have to make a decision of what to do."
Deragisch and the board thanked Leonard (Shorty) Leenderts and sons Alan and David and daughters Kristi and Lori for establishing a perpetual scholarship in memory of Lois Leenderts, their wife and mother.
The scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing a career in nursing or agriculture.
"It's a wonderful way to honor your wife and mother," said board chair Alan Harnack.
Hills-Beaver Creek School is participating in the School Cents program at the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls.
Shoppers save receipts for purchases made in designated stores, and a portion of the purchases are donated to the school.
Last year H-BC High School received more than $800 from the program. This year any amounts earned are earmarked for the elementary school.
Log on to the Hills-Beaver Creek School Web site at www.hbcpatriots.com. School menus and activity schedules will be available on the site in a few weeks.