School district adopts $10.5 million budget

BY EARLENE WARD FOR THE SIERRA STAR

The Yosemite Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees adopted a $10.5 million budget at its June 19 meeting.

The budget includes $193,971 deficit spending with that money coming from the district's reserve. The district's ending balance for 2004-05 is predicted to be $986,995.

“We are very fortunate that we went into this time of economic uncertainty with a very healthy ending balance,” says District Superintendent Bill McCabe. “This has allowed us to deficit spend and still remain in good fiscal condition.”

The district has not had to cut any programs or lay off any personnel. “We can maintain our current staffing and programs for another three years, even if the state’s economy does not turn around,” McCabe said. If the state economic problems continue beyond three years, the YJUHSD will have to look at ways to reduce spending.

“We have reduced expenses by 10 percent each of the last two years,” McCabe explains, but this has not impacted staffing or programs. The reductions have come in supplies and miscellaneous expenditures.

The district expects income of $10,278,837 in 2004-05 and expenses of $10,472,808.

District income comes from the following sources: Revenue limit (based on average daily attendance), $8,306,540; federal revenues, $357,166; state revenues, $904,451; and local revenues, $710,680.

Expenses are: Certificated salaries (teachers and administrators), $4,394,270; classified salaries, $2,154,870; benefits, $2,117,326 (wages and benefits total $8,666,466 or 83 percent of the budget); books and supplies, $601,200; services and utilities, $1,120,032; equipment, nothing budgeted; other expenses, $2,500; other financing sources/uses, $82,342.

The district is beginning the 2004-05 fiscal year with an ending balance of $1,180,966. At the end of the 2004-05 year, the district will have $314,184 in economic reserve and $672,811 in unappropriated funds for a total ending balance of $986,955.

If the district continues to deficit spend for the next three years, the projection is that at the end of the 2006-07 year, there will be a $561,202 ending balance.

A copy of the district's budget is available for review at the YJUHSD office, 50200 Road 427, Oakhurst. Summer office hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

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