Schools Finally See State Budget Numbers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The state's two-year budget bill was approved at $27.8 billion. Republican Governor Mitch Daniels said the budget increases overall spending for public schools, but Democrat House Speaker Pat Bauer said he wished more money could have been made available to education.[[In-content Ad]]"I was very, very excited we got the budget passed," said State Rep. Dave Wolkins, Republican, Winona Lake.
If the state legislature had not passed a budget by midnight Tuesday night, the state would have shut down.
Wolkins said he thought the recession and its impact on the budget was getting close the bottom and would not get much worse. In two years, the state budget could be back to normal and schools could see 2 to 3 percent increases again, he said.
"We've never cut the education budget. No matter what happens, I don't think that will ever happen," Wolkins said. However, it will continue to be tight.
The state budget passed Tuesday called for a 1.1 percent increase in education spending for 2010 and 0.3 percent increase for 2011.
Tippecanoe Valley's 2009 funding was $13,021,284. For 2010, it is estimated to increase 0.09 percent to $13,033,444, but will decrease in 2011 to $12,988,959.
Beginning in 2009, the state took over school corporations' general funds. The 2009 funding numbers are the general fund figures.
"For 2010, that is a very slight increase. For 2011, that's a reduction of the previous year of almost $35,000. That's going to make things pretty difficult for us," said Brett Boggs, Tippecanoe Valley superintendent.
He said most school corporations in the area are in the same spot as Valley. If you look at the overall picture, with costs rising for everything from insurance to utilities, Boggs said, the budget is a flat-line budget.
"It's going to be tough. I hope we don't have to reduce staff," Boggs said.
Wolkins said he doesn't think a reduction of staff is going to have to happen. Unless a school corporation loses many students, he said, there shouldn't be a need for staff reduction.
One of the factors that plays a part in school funding is student population.
The state is projecting a decrease in the student population for Valley over the next two years of 20 students per year. If that trend happens, Boggs said, Valley may have to cut staffing to meet costs.
Warsaw Community Schools' 2009 funding was $40,542,888. In 2010, the funding will increase 2.23 percent to $41,447,321; and increase 1.10 percent to $41,901,873 in 2011.
Wolkins said Warsaw's budget didn't turn out too bad. Thirty other states in the country are cutting school funding. With Indiana schools getting an increase, the legislature did a tremendous job, he said. Schools still will have to tighten their budgets, he said.
Warsaw Schools Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said the school board is having a work session Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. One of the issues they will be discussing is the budget.
For the budget figures, the state made a variety of assumptions, Scott said. If those assumptions change, such as Warsaw's student population decreasing, the budget figures could change.
"What actually occurs may be different because we might have a flat student enrollment," said Scott.
Wawasee and Whitko school corporations both will see decreases in 2010 and 2011.
Wawasee's 2009 funding was $19,709,188, but will decrease 0.46 percent in 2010 to $19,619,433. It will drop another 0.01 percent in 2011 to $19,617,127, according to state projections.
"It's a concern any time you lose money," said Jim Evans, Wawasee director of finance. "... The main concern is potential loss of revenue."
Whitko's 2009 funding was $11,198,088. It is expected to drop 0.62 percent in 2010 and 0.16 percent in 2011 to $11,110,902.
Manchester Community Schools will see an increase of 2.02 percent in 2010, but then a decrease of 0.66 percent in 2011. MCS's 2009 funding was $9,409,593; the projected 2010 funding is $9,599,636, and $9,536,643 in 2011.
Increases for 2010 and 2011 are in store for Triton School Corp., but only by 1.71 percent in 2010 and 0.27 in 2011. Triton's 2009 funding was $6,488,287. Projected funding for Triton in 2010 is $6,599,267 and $6,616,882 in 2011.
Boggs said some people in power make it difficult for public schools, instead favoring private or religious schools. They forget, he said, that "public schools are the great equalizer in our society."
He said he can show data illustrating that public schools are doing better than ever. Graduation rates, student achievement and attendance continue to improve. However, Boggs said, it gets discouraging when the "powers that be" continue to be negative toward public schools. Boggs said he sees how hard teachers and staff are working and how dedicated they are to helping children.
"We have a lot of people working to improve the lives of children," he said.
But all public schools hear is negativity from the governor and State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Bennett.
"I think local people know we're doing a good job and looking out for kids," Boggs said.
Despite what the state might think, Boggs said they are not just throwing money around.
"We're pretty conservative around here," he said.
The state's two-year budget bill was approved at $27.8 billion. Republican Governor Mitch Daniels said the budget increases overall spending for public schools, but Democrat House Speaker Pat Bauer said he wished more money could have been made available to education.[[In-content Ad]]"I was very, very excited we got the budget passed," said State Rep. Dave Wolkins, Republican, Winona Lake.
If the state legislature had not passed a budget by midnight Tuesday night, the state would have shut down.
Wolkins said he thought the recession and its impact on the budget was getting close the bottom and would not get much worse. In two years, the state budget could be back to normal and schools could see 2 to 3 percent increases again, he said.
"We've never cut the education budget. No matter what happens, I don't think that will ever happen," Wolkins said. However, it will continue to be tight.
The state budget passed Tuesday called for a 1.1 percent increase in education spending for 2010 and 0.3 percent increase for 2011.
Tippecanoe Valley's 2009 funding was $13,021,284. For 2010, it is estimated to increase 0.09 percent to $13,033,444, but will decrease in 2011 to $12,988,959.
Beginning in 2009, the state took over school corporations' general funds. The 2009 funding numbers are the general fund figures.
"For 2010, that is a very slight increase. For 2011, that's a reduction of the previous year of almost $35,000. That's going to make things pretty difficult for us," said Brett Boggs, Tippecanoe Valley superintendent.
He said most school corporations in the area are in the same spot as Valley. If you look at the overall picture, with costs rising for everything from insurance to utilities, Boggs said, the budget is a flat-line budget.
"It's going to be tough. I hope we don't have to reduce staff," Boggs said.
Wolkins said he doesn't think a reduction of staff is going to have to happen. Unless a school corporation loses many students, he said, there shouldn't be a need for staff reduction.
One of the factors that plays a part in school funding is student population.
The state is projecting a decrease in the student population for Valley over the next two years of 20 students per year. If that trend happens, Boggs said, Valley may have to cut staffing to meet costs.
Warsaw Community Schools' 2009 funding was $40,542,888. In 2010, the funding will increase 2.23 percent to $41,447,321; and increase 1.10 percent to $41,901,873 in 2011.
Wolkins said Warsaw's budget didn't turn out too bad. Thirty other states in the country are cutting school funding. With Indiana schools getting an increase, the legislature did a tremendous job, he said. Schools still will have to tighten their budgets, he said.
Warsaw Schools Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said the school board is having a work session Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. One of the issues they will be discussing is the budget.
For the budget figures, the state made a variety of assumptions, Scott said. If those assumptions change, such as Warsaw's student population decreasing, the budget figures could change.
"What actually occurs may be different because we might have a flat student enrollment," said Scott.
Wawasee and Whitko school corporations both will see decreases in 2010 and 2011.
Wawasee's 2009 funding was $19,709,188, but will decrease 0.46 percent in 2010 to $19,619,433. It will drop another 0.01 percent in 2011 to $19,617,127, according to state projections.
"It's a concern any time you lose money," said Jim Evans, Wawasee director of finance. "... The main concern is potential loss of revenue."
Whitko's 2009 funding was $11,198,088. It is expected to drop 0.62 percent in 2010 and 0.16 percent in 2011 to $11,110,902.
Manchester Community Schools will see an increase of 2.02 percent in 2010, but then a decrease of 0.66 percent in 2011. MCS's 2009 funding was $9,409,593; the projected 2010 funding is $9,599,636, and $9,536,643 in 2011.
Increases for 2010 and 2011 are in store for Triton School Corp., but only by 1.71 percent in 2010 and 0.27 in 2011. Triton's 2009 funding was $6,488,287. Projected funding for Triton in 2010 is $6,599,267 and $6,616,882 in 2011.
Boggs said some people in power make it difficult for public schools, instead favoring private or religious schools. They forget, he said, that "public schools are the great equalizer in our society."
He said he can show data illustrating that public schools are doing better than ever. Graduation rates, student achievement and attendance continue to improve. However, Boggs said, it gets discouraging when the "powers that be" continue to be negative toward public schools. Boggs said he sees how hard teachers and staff are working and how dedicated they are to helping children.
"We have a lot of people working to improve the lives of children," he said.
But all public schools hear is negativity from the governor and State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Bennett.
"I think local people know we're doing a good job and looking out for kids," Boggs said.
Despite what the state might think, Boggs said they are not just throwing money around.
"We're pretty conservative around here," he said.
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