DARLINGTON — The Darlington School Board of Education held their annual meeting Monday, Aug. 25 at the large group room in the DEMS building.
The board clerk, Bob Hermanson gave the statement of receipts, expenditures, and balances for the 2021-2022 school year. The beginning balance of the General Fund: Fund 10 was $4,410,133 the ending balance is $5,210,202. Total revenues for the year at $13,092,272 with expenses of $12,292,202. Special Projects Funds (Funds 21, 23, and 29) had beginning balance of $2,415,225 with a negative balance of $2,485,283 revenues were $257,031 with expenditures of $186,972. Special Education Fund (Fund 27) had a beginning balance of $0 and an ending balance of $0.
The district had total revenues and other finance sources were at $1,483,196 with expenditures the same at $1,483,196. The Debt Service Fund (Funds 38 and 39) had a beginning balance of $19,038 with $457,134 in revenue and $459,733 in expenditures with an ending balance of $16,439.
Capital Projects Fund (Funds 41, 46, 48, 49) had a beginning balance of $2,028,160 and an ending balance of $1,936,437. It had revenues of $5,047 and expenditures of $96,770.
Food Service (Fund 50) had a beginning fund balance of $125,202, revenues were $761,112 and expenditures were $544,341 leaving an ending balance of $341,972.
Community Service Fund (Fund 80) had a beginning balance of $158,123 with expenditures of $3,255, leaving a balance of $154,868.
The report was approved.
District Administrator Cale Jackson explained what the figures mean in Hermanson’s financial report.
Jackson said, “General Fund (Fund 10) with a balance of $5.2 million, that covers 38% of our expenses for the year. We have a policy that we need to maintain a minimum of 24%, that is to avoid short term borrowing. We get paid from the state three times a year. Two-thirds of our revenue comes from state aid. We get 1/3 state aid at the beginning of the school year and another 1/3 halfway through the school year. If we didn’t have a healthy fund balance we would run out of money before the halfway point and we would have to borrow to pay our teachers for a month or so. So this fund balance lets us avoid paying interest and that’s a good thing.”
Jackson pointed out some big numbers in the budget (based on current projections): the district gets a third of their revenue from local taxes — $3.7 million; state aid is about two-thirds of our revenue — $7.1 million; the district usually gets some monies from the federal government, this year — $1.2 million, which is covid money we have had a freeze on revenue limits over the past two years; the districts biggest expense K-6 staff is one and 7-12 staff is number two; a $300,000 increase in staff, because of inflation increases and added staff; some covid monies went out to pay for building projects; revenue limit is $10,000 per student per year.
Jackson explained the mill rate, “It equals the amount of taxes that are paid, divided by property value, times $1,000. If the property values in our district go up 11.4%, then our mill rate will be the same as it was last year.”
The projected mill rate is estimated 10.3%. Jackson stated he has new information and the mill rate number will be significantly lower and starting with a nine, by the time it’s over.
The Darlington Community School Board adopted the budget and set levy. Taxes will be levied and assessed against real and personal property to operate the Darlington School District for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The total levy is $4,017,153. The mill rate is estimated at 10.3%.
State of the district
Jackson informed the board that he feels good about the direction staff and projects are going, saying, “I think we couldn’t be sitting in a better place regarding our facilities.”
In other business (all approved):
● Approved adopting the Treasurer’s Report.
● Set school day from 8:00 — 3:30 p.m.
● Set the salary for board president at $2,200.
● Set salary for Clerk of the Board at $450.
● Set salary for Board Members at $25 per regular meeting and committee meetings.
● Approved using the 2021-2022 census estimates, utilizing state records.
● Set student fees for 2022-2023 for grades 9, 10, 11 & 12: Chromebook fee, $50 yearly per student with the student owning the chromebook after four years. Tenth grade driver education student fee was set at $240.
● Approved authorizing sale of properties. This authorizes the board to sell school property that is no longer need for school operation.
● Approved authorizing acquisition of real estate. This authorizes the board to enter into negotiations prior to purchase or condemnation of real estate that is no longer needed for the advancement of school operation.
● Approved authorizing rental of school property. This authorizes the board to rent school property that is no longer needed for the school district.
● Approved authorizing the disposal of financial records and school records (other than pupil records) not less than seven years old.
● Approved authorizing short term borrowing. This authorizes the board to short term borrowing to cover short falls.
● Approved setting hot lunch and breakfast prices, same rate as last year. This is the first year the school district is offering breakfast, those costs are: Adult — $2.60, 7-12 — $1.90, K-6 — $1.90 and milk at 25¢.
● Approved authorizing student accident insurance.
