Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - No patrons attended the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. budget hearing Thursday night.
The estimated 2007 budget was advertised Aug. 8 and 15, according to Superintendent Dr. Daniel Kramer, and the school board went over the figures at a previous meeting.
Kramer said the figures were estimated at 80 percent of the assessed valuation because Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell made that recommendation. The assessed valuations for Fulton and Kosciusko County have not yet been finalized. With a lower assessed valuation, the result is a higher tax rate, but the tax rate can be reduced once the assessed valuations are known. The tax rates just can't be increased.
For Valley's 2007 proposed budget, the preschool fund is estimated at $68,750. The approved 2006 budget was $49,500. Debt service for 2007 was advertised at $2,984,345, compared to the approved 2006 budget of $2,984,724. The capital projects fund was estimated for 2007 at $2,018,149, while for 2006 it was approved at $1,726,397.
The transportation operating fund for 2007 was figured at $1,285,811. For 2006, it was approved as $1,230,442. The 2007 estimated bus replacement fund is $218,541. The 2006 figure was approved at $201,195. Valley tries to replace all its buses on a 15-year cycle, Kramer said. Some years two are replaced, while three are replaced during other years.
The general fund is levy driven and is proposed for 2007 at $14,083,251. For 2006, it was approved at $13,427,988. Kramer said despite the figure, Valley will only spend the expenses that don't exceed its revenue. Valley has not had to do that in the past and will continue to operate in that manner. The proposed budget totals more than $20 million.
Personnel matters also were approved at Thursday's special Valley School Board meeting.
The board unanimously approved the 2006-07 salaries for non-certified employees, including those in maintenance, technology, etc. Administrators' contracts also were approved for extension for one to three years.
The following personnel also were hired: Denise Bahney, English Language Learners; Debra Craft, custodian, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School; Nicole Finn, extended day kindergarten and kindergarten teacher, Mentone; Tabitha Floor, extended day kindergarten, Mentone; Janet Flannery, instructional assistant, Akron; Kyleigh Gast, instructional assistant, Akron; Jacalyn Haist, instructional assistant, TVMS, first semester only; Ana Jansma, ELL; and Melinda Kirk, custodian, TVMS.
School board members are President Dave O'Brien, Vice President Bryan Murphy, Secretary Rod Eaton, Mark Wise and Hal Hoffman.
