SYRACUSE - Even though many uncertainties still exist about Indiana's property reassessment and its effect on tax revenues for schools, Wawasee School Board tackled its 2004 budget Tuesday anyway.

Jim Evans, director of finance, told the board the budget process this year is the same as previous years, only magnified a little bit. With the reassessment, they knew this year's budget planning was going to be a little different, and will advertise the tax levies a little higher than they will be getting, more so than in past years.

If the school board doesn't advertise higher than anticipated, the school corporation may not get all it's due.

"There's just a lot of unknowns," Evans said.

The total of all funds to be advertised for 2004 for Wawasee School Corp. is $30,840,160.

For the general fund, Wawasee school board approved advertising a budget of $19,741,764. The general fund, Evans said, is not a source of revenue the school board has control over - the state decides. The corporation's only determination is how it will live within the budget.

Board member Marion Acton asked what percentage of the general fund does Wawasee receive from the state and how much is local. Evans replied that the money the school corporation receives from local sources - i.e., property tax, excise tax, interest, etc. - "approaches not quite half."

Debt service fund will be advertised at $4,871,727 and also is a fund the state determines. Evans said the state will look at Wawasee's debts to various financial institutions to build buildings and the state will tell Wawasee how much money they will need.

Capital projects fund is determined locally, but is capped, and will be advertised at $3,847,216. Evans said the fund is pretty level and they don't anticipate any major projects.

"Basically," he said, "(it's) a maintenance budget."

For 2004, the state is no longer helping fund the transportation operating fund, which means Wawasee will lose approximately $25,000 for 2004, Evans said. The fund will be advertised at $1,745,510.

Last year, Wawasee School Corp. discussed the idea of expanding bus services. Superintendent Dr. Mark Stock said Tuesday it is probably a good idea because of the state cut that the school board did not expand services.

The bus replacement fund will be advertised at $324,915. The money is used to replace buses in the school corporation's fleet, which has 63 buses. Wawasee is on schedule to replace five buses per year.

An amount of $68,750 will be advertised for the special education preschool fund. The fund always is based on one-third of a penny of the assessed valuation.

Previously, the retirement/severance bond debt service fund was part of the debt service fund. For 2004, the bond debt service fund is broken out on its own.

For 2004, the bond debt service fund for Wawasee Schools will be advertised at $240,278.

In other business, the school board:

• Approved the resignation of Maggie Brunner, Syracuse School grade four teacher.

• Approved the employment of Robert Jorczak, social studies, Wawasee High School; Benjamin Griffith, band and choir teacher, Wawasee Middle School; Teresa Zurcher, North Webster school grade two teacher.

Members of the Wawasee Community School Corp. School Board are Marion Acton, Dallas Winchester, Brian Dawes, Jeffrey Wells and Mary Lou Dixon. [[In-content Ad]]