School budget reflects funding cutback

The Brainerd School District's projected general fund balance for the coming school year is expected to decrease by about $997,600 from the 2002-03 school year.

The Brainerd School Board adopted the proposed 2003-04 budget Monday. The preliminary budget is based on many facts, assumptions and estimations, said Brainerd School District Business Manager Steve Dickinson.

Changes in the 2003-04 proposed budget were mainly due to the recent changes made by the Legislature. The district will see $160,000 less in compensatory aid; $65,000 less in Early Childhood Family Education program funding; and $130,000 less for Title I funds from the state.

The district also will lose state funding for the Fast Break program, a free breakfast program. The school board must review the program and decide whether it will continue to fund the program or whether it will start charging families for the service.

The district has made planned reductions in expenditures to help offset the state cuts. The district plans not to replace 3.5 teaching positions and one custodian. It also has reduced its transportation contract by $300,000.

The proposed budget does not include settlements for the teacher and administration contracts, which expire June 30.

The general fund balance at the end of the 2003 fiscal year will be an estimated $6,146,105 and will decrease to an anticipated $5,148,466 by June 30, 2004.

The preliminary general fund budget for the 2003-04 school year has an estimated $59.22 million in revenue and $59.93 million in expenditures.

Expenditures in the food service fund for next school year are estimated at $2,854,869 compared with $2,781,911 in expenditures in this year's budget. Revenue for 2003-04 is anticipated to be $2,775,140 compared with $2,759,690 this school year. Dickinson said the district may increase its food prices in the fall to help offset the $79,729 in expenditures over revenue.