MONROE - A first look at the coming year's budget for the Monroe school district contains some good news for district taxpayers: No big surprises and no big increases.
The initial budget shows a 3.4 percent increase in total expenditures, from $29,180,000 in 2007-08 to about $30,178,000 in 2008-09. Revenues are projected to increase 2.1 percent, from $29,560,000 this year to $30,178,000.
Included in projected revenues is almost $8,403,000 from local taxes, up about 1.5 percent from this year's $8,279,000. The total expense for instruction is just more than $13,759,000, an increase of about 1.9 percent from $13,509,000 this year.
Budget numbers are preliminary and can change before the final budget is adopted, said Ron Olson, district business manager. The school board is expected to vote on accepting the initial budget proposal at its June 23 meeting.
It will continue to review and refine the budget through the summer. Once final student enrollment numbers are taken in September, and exact aid amounts are known, Olson will present the final budget and the board will vote on it at the annual meeting in October.
The budget is all about "maintaining the status quo," Olson said, adding the district is committed to carefully monitoring the budget.
In preparing the budget, Olson said the district tries to predict as yet unknown expenses and factor those in. Some increases, such as rising heating fuel prices, could end up costing more than what was projected, he said.
But the end budget should look similar to what Olson gave school board members Monday.
"We shouldn't be seeing any great differences" between that and the final budget, he said.
The initial budget shows a 3.4 percent increase in total expenditures, from $29,180,000 in 2007-08 to about $30,178,000 in 2008-09. Revenues are projected to increase 2.1 percent, from $29,560,000 this year to $30,178,000.
Included in projected revenues is almost $8,403,000 from local taxes, up about 1.5 percent from this year's $8,279,000. The total expense for instruction is just more than $13,759,000, an increase of about 1.9 percent from $13,509,000 this year.
Budget numbers are preliminary and can change before the final budget is adopted, said Ron Olson, district business manager. The school board is expected to vote on accepting the initial budget proposal at its June 23 meeting.
It will continue to review and refine the budget through the summer. Once final student enrollment numbers are taken in September, and exact aid amounts are known, Olson will present the final budget and the board will vote on it at the annual meeting in October.
The budget is all about "maintaining the status quo," Olson said, adding the district is committed to carefully monitoring the budget.
In preparing the budget, Olson said the district tries to predict as yet unknown expenses and factor those in. Some increases, such as rising heating fuel prices, could end up costing more than what was projected, he said.
But the end budget should look similar to what Olson gave school board members Monday.
"We shouldn't be seeing any great differences" between that and the final budget, he said.