MONROE - The Monroe school board has some options to consider as it moves forward with the 2010-11 school budget, said Ron Olson, district business manager.
Olson presented the 2010-11 preliminary budget to the board Monday. The board didn't have to make any decisions Monday. Olson explained that he wanted to provide the board with suggestions it could think about and discuss before the board takes another look at next year's budget in September.
The district could increase the tax levy by almost 6 percent from last year's levy of about $11.9 million. That would give the district a total tax levy of about $12.6 million
Olson didn't have any final numbers about the tax rate for district homeowners because figures for home values weren't available. Last year, the district's tax rate was $11.83 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
However, the district could use some of its fund balance to reduce the levy, Olson said.
The Monroe School district has done a good job of keeping expenses under budget, he said, to the board. The district has about $5.3 million in its fund balance account, which could be used to help pay for any unexpected expenses.
Olson gave the board three options: It could use about $345,000 of the fund balance to cut the levy increase to 3 percent; use about $464,000 of the fund balance to cut the levy increase to 2 percent; or use about $700,000 to keep the levy at the same amount as the 2009-10 budget.
A preliminary budget is necessary to allow Olson to have a starting point as he prepares a final budget before the district's annual meeting in October.
Olson will have more specific financial numbers after the September meeting, when the district will have a final enrollment number for the 2010-11 school year; and in October, when the state has final numbers as to how much state aid school districts will receive.
"We don't have the final information for the budget until September and October," Olson said, at Monday's meeting.
Olson presented the 2010-11 preliminary budget to the board Monday. The board didn't have to make any decisions Monday. Olson explained that he wanted to provide the board with suggestions it could think about and discuss before the board takes another look at next year's budget in September.
The district could increase the tax levy by almost 6 percent from last year's levy of about $11.9 million. That would give the district a total tax levy of about $12.6 million
Olson didn't have any final numbers about the tax rate for district homeowners because figures for home values weren't available. Last year, the district's tax rate was $11.83 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
However, the district could use some of its fund balance to reduce the levy, Olson said.
The Monroe School district has done a good job of keeping expenses under budget, he said, to the board. The district has about $5.3 million in its fund balance account, which could be used to help pay for any unexpected expenses.
Olson gave the board three options: It could use about $345,000 of the fund balance to cut the levy increase to 3 percent; use about $464,000 of the fund balance to cut the levy increase to 2 percent; or use about $700,000 to keep the levy at the same amount as the 2009-10 budget.
A preliminary budget is necessary to allow Olson to have a starting point as he prepares a final budget before the district's annual meeting in October.
Olson will have more specific financial numbers after the September meeting, when the district will have a final enrollment number for the 2010-11 school year; and in October, when the state has final numbers as to how much state aid school districts will receive.
"We don't have the final information for the budget until September and October," Olson said, at Monday's meeting.