MONROE - The Monroe school district's budget could hold steady next year with an increase of less than 1 percent from this year.
Business Administrator Ron Olson presented the preliminary 2016-17 budget at the school board meeting Monday as an early look at next year's spending plan. The district will continue to work on the budget as more information becomes available. The board will approve the final version at the annual meeting this fall.
Olson projected next year's general fund expenses will be about $28.5 million, compared to $28.3 million this year, which is an increase of almost 0.9 percent.
"I think it's pretty good," Olson said, noting that part of the reason it's staying low is that the budget no longer includes money from the PEP grant, which is in its final year. "But even so, setting that aside ... it's a pretty lean budget yet again, just because there's no dollars going into the revenue limit factor."
School revenue limits are set at the state level and are frozen through the 2016-17 school year.
The initial budget includes the costs of a new salary schedule for teachers and other professional staff, which is more financially sustainable than the current schedule, Olson said.
Insurance costs for next year are looking higher than expected, but Olson said he's hoping to shave some of the extra costs off by making minor adjustments to the health insurance drug plan.
The district's projected deficit is also higher than originally estimated at $1.2 million.
School enrollment, which is still unknown for next year, will impact the district's revenue limit and overall budget. The open enrollment window closes at the end of April.
"That's one for us to work on," said board member Les Bieneman, referring to Monroe's declining enrollment.
Board members Bob Erb, Scott Schmidt and Michael Boehme were absent.
Business Administrator Ron Olson presented the preliminary 2016-17 budget at the school board meeting Monday as an early look at next year's spending plan. The district will continue to work on the budget as more information becomes available. The board will approve the final version at the annual meeting this fall.
Olson projected next year's general fund expenses will be about $28.5 million, compared to $28.3 million this year, which is an increase of almost 0.9 percent.
"I think it's pretty good," Olson said, noting that part of the reason it's staying low is that the budget no longer includes money from the PEP grant, which is in its final year. "But even so, setting that aside ... it's a pretty lean budget yet again, just because there's no dollars going into the revenue limit factor."
School revenue limits are set at the state level and are frozen through the 2016-17 school year.
The initial budget includes the costs of a new salary schedule for teachers and other professional staff, which is more financially sustainable than the current schedule, Olson said.
Insurance costs for next year are looking higher than expected, but Olson said he's hoping to shave some of the extra costs off by making minor adjustments to the health insurance drug plan.
The district's projected deficit is also higher than originally estimated at $1.2 million.
School enrollment, which is still unknown for next year, will impact the district's revenue limit and overall budget. The open enrollment window closes at the end of April.
"That's one for us to work on," said board member Les Bieneman, referring to Monroe's declining enrollment.
Board members Bob Erb, Scott Schmidt and Michael Boehme were absent.