Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - The Tippecanoe Valley School Board Monday approved advertising its budget for 2006.
The budget includes six different funds. The amounts advertised are on the high side because the board can always lower the amounts and tax rates after they've been advertised but cannot raise them.
The 2006 proposed total budget estimate for the preschool special education fund is $49,500, the same as was advertised and approved in 2005. The fund's rate is established by the state.
The debt service fund pays for the debt acquired by the school corporation. The proposed debt service fund for 2006 is $2,984,724, slightly up from the $2,972,600 in 2005.
Total 2006 proposed budget estimate for the capital projects fund is $1,726,786. In 2005, the budget was $1,572,833. The CPF includes $325,000, Superintendent Dr. Daniel Kramer said, for utilities as allowed by the state.
The transportation operating fund proposed for 2006 is $1,230,442. In 2005, it was $1,128,200. Kramer said there is no state support for transportation. However, the state does allow school corporations to transfer set amounts from the capital projects fund to the transportation fund.
Bus replacement fund is need driven and used to buy new school buses for the school corporation. For 2006, the proposed budget is $201,195. In 2005, the budget was advertised and approved at $194,740.
The largest fund is the general fund. For 2006, the proposed fund is $13,427,988, up from $13,101,031 in 2005. With new school facilities, the school board also approved a petition to appeal for an excess levy under the general fund. Kramer said the appeal will provide the school corporation help with its additional operating costs. The amount requested in the appeal is $96,031.
Members of the Tippecanoe Valley School Board are Mark Wise, Hal Hoffman, Rod Eaton, David O'Brien and Brian Murphy. Their next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Mentone Elementary School in the board meeting room.
