Officials release budget for 08-09 school year

, 2008

The Wahkiakum School District board of directors will hold a budget meeting July 23 at 7 p.m. in the high school library. Copies of the budget for the 2008-09 school year are available in the district office.

Total revenue for the coming school year is $5.87 million. Last year's budget was $4.65 million compared to the 2006-07 school year at $4.61 million. Superintendent Bob Garrett’s budget beginning fund balance is $450,000 for the 08-09 school year with an ending balance at $247,000.

Last year's budget started with $650,000 on hand and ended with $495,000. Actual figures for the 06-07 school year were $451,000 to begin and $653,000 at the end.

Local property tax will provide $742,000 to schools this year compared to $730,000 last school year. In the 06-07 school year $674, 000 came from local taxes.

Enrollment for the coming school year is slightly up from last year. For the school year 08-09, Garrett predicts 469.5 student FTE’s compared to last year’s 455.

The enrollment generates state basic education funding of $2.87 million for the coming year. Last year's enrollment generated $2.54 million, and in the 06-07 year, $2.45 million.

Teaching staff numbers have gone down. This year’s staff count is 31.2 FTE certified employees compared to last year’s 31.8. Staff counts for the 06-07 school year were 33.1.