NORTH MANCHESTER - It's that time of year again.

Time for number crunching and analysis that leads to annual school budgets.

Manchester Community Schools Business Manager Steve Shumaker presented the preliminary budget numbers to the school board in a special public workshop after the regular school board meeting Tuesday night in North Manchester.

"This is a 'look at where we are'," Shumaker said. "Nothing is cast in concrete yet, but it's pretty set on most things, but there will be some adjustments."

Shumaker went on to explain how he figures the budget.

"I call it responsible budgeting," said Shumaker. "It a combination of figuring from the top down and the bottom up."

The total projected budget for 2006 is $14,352,210. Of that total, the general fund makes up $9,463,550, and the capital service fund equals $1,627,885. The transportation operating fund is listed at $704,000, while the bus replacement fund is $143,000. The debt service fund totals $1,960,759 and the retirement/severance bond debt service fund is $220,016. The special education fund totals $53,000 of the budget.

Although the proposed budget is higher than last year, the levy should be lower than last year.

"I built this budget based on 90 percent of the assessed value from last year," said Shumaker.

The levy will be advertised at $1.90, but is expected to be lower. Last year the levy was advertised at $2.20 and ended up being $1.77.

"I feel like we've got a good budget," said Shumaker. "It's a responsible budget, but with some margin of protection built in." [[In-content Ad]]