Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw School Board approved the 2004-05 budget Monday, as Superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire responded to objections filed last month with the Kosciusko County auditor.
The total budget is $50,430,102. Objections included charges that: figures in the general and capital projects funds were incorrect and/or inaccurate, the budget created a deficit, new positions were created at inflated salaries, line items for central office staff are not shown, the 4 percent increase exceeds the inflation rate and proposed tax rates are "still uncertain due to changes in assessed values that have not yet been determined."
The objection was filed by 13 people.
McGuire responded point by point, saying the charge that figures are inaccurate is too vague; the corporation's cash balance will be used to keep the budget out of a deficit; North Central Indiana Special Education Cooperative employees now are showing up on the budget, but they are not new or at inflated salaries; central office staff salaries often come from several accounts; the general fund budget is up by 2.03 percent over last year; and individual tax rates may be uncertain, but the total tax levy is stated, and the corporation cannot raise more than the budget specifies.
The board approved a motion by Larry Chamberlain that "the objections raised to the Warsaw Community Schools Corporation budget ... do not rise to the level necessary or appropriate for us to reject and/or reconsider the approval of the budget by the board."
Board members Gene England and Ron Yeiter opposed the motion.
The board then approved seven motions adopting the budget, with Yeiter and England opposing the budget in general and the capital projects fund.
Board attorney Max Reed said the objections to the budget triggered a section in the state statute that a finding must be made. Once the board adopted a resolution accepting the budget, Reed will prepare the findings to comply with the statute.
Board members are Craig Allebach, Larry Chamberlain, Gene England, Cathy Folk, Jim Folk, Mark Minatel and Ron Yeiter. The board meets at 7 p.m. in the administration building on the third Monday of each month.
