Wednesday, October 06, 1999
Mason schools expect to run $1 million in red
Growth, cap on aid stress budget
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — The Mason schools this year will spend almost $1 million more than they receive in taxes and state aid.
Running into budgetary red is unavoidable for now because of Mason's rapid growth and state funding rules, local officials say.
Treasurer Cary Furniss blames it on legislators who cap the amount of money a district receives from the state regardless of how many new students enroll. In Mason's case, the difference is about $1.25 million.
“We're getting about 718 new students but the state is only paying for less than half and then capping us,” Mr. Furniss said. “That's creating a difficult situation for us. This is a deficit budget. That's the first time it's happened since I came here four years ago.”
This year, the district will receive $31,824,600 but plans to spend $32,808,834. The difference of $984,234 will come from the district's cash reserves. Mr. Furniss estimates those reserves will allow the district to remain solvent through June 2001.
A $300,000 deficit is projected for June 2002. By carefully watching what is spent and making minor adjustments, Mr. Furniss said he thinks the district can make it through the 2001-2002 school year in the black.
“On a $42 million budget, we can cut some corners to remain solvent,” Mr. Furniss said of the district's projected budget for 2001-02. “We've been pretty conservative in our estimates.”
When the board of education put its 9.8 mill tax increase on the ballot three years ago, it promised the levy would last a minimum of five years and Mr. Furniss thinks it will.
At the time, educators were predicting growth of only 400 new students each year. But the district has averaged 531 new students since 1994 and projec tions now call for 600-700 new students each year. Enrollment went from 3,421 in 1994 to an estimated 6,028 today.
“We're well above projections in growth,” Mr. Furniss said.
“We're going to stick to what we promised voters, though, and make the levy last.”
To cope with a growing student enrollment and dwindling dollars, the Mason Board of Education is considering putting a combination money issue on the March ballot. It would in clude dollars to construct another school — probably a high school — as well as operating dollars.
About the time the new school opened and the district began fully collecting on a new money issue, the district's cash reserves would be depleted, Mr. Furniss said.
The board has until the end of December to put together the package. Mr. Furniss said he should have an updated five-year financial forecast completed sometime next month.
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