Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BOURBON - The Triton School Board unanimously approved Superintendent Ted Chittum's budget proposal for 2004 at a board meeting Monday.
However, Chittum said, "We are still working on this year's budget as a work in progress. Our property tax revenue is late in coming and the state is still holding back a payment to the general fund, which requires us to borrow in all funds. This makes for an extremely difficult year in trying to advertise a budget that is close to what will actually be certified."
The general fund increased 2.6 percent to $6,726,555 from $6,552,705 in 2003.
"I anticipate having to cut some of the appropriations for this year to be able to maintain this figure," said Chittum.
He said this total will be reduced by approximately $850,000 due to property tax replacement credit. He also said the general fund for 2003 should be reduced by about the same amount.
The capital projects fund had the largest increase at 18.7 percent to $937,012 from $789,000 in 2003. According to Chittum, "The increase is due to the potential of the upcoming renovation project." Two new accounts were added to this fund - $50,000 for professional services such as architecture and engineering and $250,000 for emergency allocation.
An increase of 2.1 percent was seen in the debt service fund. It went up from $637,136 in 2003 to $623,450 for 2004. Chittum said a factor in this increase is the state's elimination of the Average Daily Attendance flat grant. He said in past years, Triton schools received $40,000 per year from this grant. In 2003, it was reduced to $20,000 and none will be received for 2004.
Chittum said this money will have to be provided by property taxes in the future.
"It will be an insignificant impact on our tax rate," he said.
The transportation operating fund rose 5.26 percent to $459,900 from $436,900 in 2003.
In other business:
• The board approved borrowing $351,658: $107,951 for the capital projects fund, $161,553 for the transportation fund and $82,154 for the bus replacement fund.
According to Chittum, Triton School Corp. already has borrowed $800,000 for the general fund and $300,000 for the debt service fund this year. He said these loans are for cash flow purposes.
"It's replacing the tax revenue we haven't received yet," he said.
• Chittum reported on the progression of the school renovation project. According to Chittum, following their tour of Jimtown High School, which is in the renovation process, and Northwood High School, which is using renovated facilities, the board approved of the work done at those locations by Schmidt and Associates; and Odle, McGuire, Shook architectural firm. The board approved approaching Schmidt and Associates and O.M.S. for contracts to work on Triton's renovation project.
• Triton Junior/Senior High School math teacher John Wright reported on the summer ISTEP tutoring program. He started a contest called Monday Math to help stimulate questions from students pertaining to the math sections of the ISTEP and SAT.
Wright said last year 80 percent of students who attended the summer tutoring sessions passed the ISTEP. Of those who attended the summer sessions, some also attended morning sessions during the school year.
"For those attending the morning sessions, I can't imagine it was any lower than 95 percent," Wright said.
The next board meeting will be Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Triton School Corp. Administration Office. Board members are president Kevin Boyer, vice president Steve Feldman, secretary Larry Lemler, Dave Shively and Steve Blackford.
