AKRON – Crafting the 2014 budget was harder this year than in prior years because of a change in the way the state now funds schools, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dan Kramer told the Tippecanoe Valley School Board Thursday night. Tippecanoe Valley held its 2014 budget public hearing last night at the administration office. No members of the public were present to discuss the proposed $22,393,403 total budget. The general fund of schools’ budgets was taken over by the state in 2009. “I’m not sure why we’re advertising it as we’re not taxing for it, but that’s what we’re required to do,” Kramer said. “We’re being very conservative with our funding estimate from the state.” The state legislature changed how schools will be reimbursed in 2014. In the past, funding was based on student enrollment on a count day in September. Starting in 2014, Kramer said, there will be two attendance dates. Funding for January to June 2014 will be based on the February count day, while funding for July through December will be based on the September 2014 enrollment. “Projecting the budget now is harder,” Kramer said. “We really have to look at that because it’s very difficult.” Typically, February enrollment is less than the prior September enrollment, Kramer indicated. “When you’re putting the budget together for all of 2014, you don’t know what the budget will be for that second half of 2014,” Kramer concluded. Of the approximate $22 million budget, the general fund makes up the bulk of it at $15,715,732. The other funds include debt service at $2,615,048; capital projects fund at $2,255,674; transportation at $1,616,949; and bus replacement fund at $190,000. Kramer reminded the board that they approved the budget for advertising at its Aug. 5 meeting. “Whatever we advertise in the newspaper can be reduced but it can never be increased. We always advertise higher than what we expect will be finalized,” Kramer said. Tax rates were established using 85 percent of the current assessed valuation in the district. The current assessed valuation is $476,322,794, Kramer said, and 85 percent of that is $404,874,374.90.
