Whitnall's budget gets preliminary OK
If unchanged, it would have 9.8 percent tax levy hike
Greenfield — The Whitnall School District's preliminary 2010-11 budget assumes a 9.8 percent increase in the property tax levy.
The budget calls for reductions - including six full-time-equivalent teachers, three librarians and a guidance counselor - and reinstates student fees.
The district still has a ways to go before the final budget is approved in October. Whitnall and all other school districts in the state are waiting for the state to establish per-pupil revenue limits and to allocate aid.
Early process
A preliminary budget needs to be adopted primarily so the district can operate and spend money after July 1, when the new fiscal year begins, School Board President Bill Osterndorf said.
A lot of work went into the preliminary budget and officials expect it will be relatively close to what the final version will be, Osterndorf said.
Residents will have a chance to weigh in during the annual meeting in September before the School Board formally adopts the budget and tax levy in October. That's nothing to be taken for granted. At last year's annual meeting, residents packed the board room and sharply criticized a proposed 11.7 percent hike in the property tax levy. The board eventually settled on an increase of 5.5 percent.
Budgeting for teacher pay
Meanwhile, negotiations are still ongoing between the district and the teachers' union on a 2009-11 contract agreement.
The School Board met last week in closed session to discuss negotiations. Osterndorf said no agreement has been reached, but he is pleased with the state of negotiations.
"It's fair to say we are all encouraged about where we are at this point," Osterndorf said.
The final result will be important because the School Board based its 2010 budget on the assumption of a 1 percent increase in teacher pay scale.
Osterndorf said it was too early to tell how the contracts will impact this year's or next year's budget.
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