EPCSC approves 2016 budget, alternates for building project

A special meeting to discuss the 2016 budget and the alternates for the elementary building project was held on Monday with positive votes.

Superintendent Dan Foster said both issues are time sensitive due to advertising the budget in the local newspaper and the 60-day limit on the alternates elementary building project bid.

Foster broke down the budget in regards to the different funds that included the general, Rainy Day, Debt Service, Capital Projects, transportation and bus replacement.

“Right now, everything happens in six-month cycles with schools, so it is very frustrating and very challenging,” Foster said. “This is a first time for a full-calendar budget, so that has been an added challenge.”

He said it becomes frustrating when the amount each school could receive is based on the number of students. The initial number of students indicates a decrease of about 16 students compared to last year. That decrease equals about $100,000 in funds.

Some of the issues that were taken into consideration while the budget was being prepared included raises in employees’ salaries, insurance costs and an increase in products such as fuel.

“Rewarding and compensating good employees and not letting them sneak away from us is, I think, vital and I appreciate the board’s contribution to helping make sure that happens,” Foster said.

With the raises and insurance costs, he said the corporation will need to watch spending in other years.

When referring to the full-calendar year, this year was the first time the corporation has had a fiscal year that began in January and ended in December. The second half of 2014 was based on appropriations that the state approved in order to change the fiscal year. Foster said it’s hard to compare the fall of 2014 with the fall of 2015.

He also said the budget looks a bit inflated.

“You advertise the highest you can so if you have to make reductions you can still cover what you need to cover while making the reductions,” Foster said. “We do have funds to cover the budget.”

As part of the budget changes, a 10-percent increase was estimated to cover the costs of insurance. Last year, the 10 percent covered the increase.

Foster also gave a brief description in regards to the Rainy Day fund, Capital Projects and bus replacement funds.

The board approved the advertising of the 2016 budget.

In regards to the alternates for the elementary school, Foster said those were tabled because there was a question of funding. The funding is available and the board needs to decide if they want to move forward with alternates four through eight.

Alternate four includes a new air handling system servicing the old kindergarten area and alternate five is to refurbish an air handling unit in another portion of the school building. Alternate six will create a learning lab area and alternate seven includes repainting and repairing the coat closets. Alternate eight will install new electric door hardware or key fobs.

“Alternates four through eight are an additional $846,000,” Foster said. “We will receive $1.128 million on top of that. So we do have the funds to cover that in the premium bonding. We recommend going ahead with the other five alternates.”

Board woman Terri Johnston asked if Foster had determined how much was allowed for the refurbishing of each room. The question had been asked at a previous meeting. Foster said estimated it was about $4,000 or $5,000 per room at the middle and high schools. He estimated each elementary class to be about $1,200.

“There were funds in each of those, set aside particularly for furniture and or equipment,” Foster said.

Johnston questioned if it is “every room.” Foster believed it was for each main classroom.

Foster said the extra funding in the bond could be used for furniture.

“I would rather see new furniture than a key fob to open the door,” Johnston said. She said the $100,000 being spent on the key fob could be used on furniture, especially if it’s not included in the specifications. Her concern was that there may not be enough funding in the budget for the new furniture that’s needed for each room.

It was also suggested that there is funding in the Capital Projects Fund that could be used for furniture.

“I have got some feedback on the furniture and the people who have given me the feedback felt like that was important,” said board president Joe Cunningham.

Boardman Larry Beach said one of the main reasons for the upgrading and repairs was because of safety. He believes the key fobs are needed as a safety feature.

The board approved alternates four through eight with opposition from board woman Terri Johnston.