A $57 million budget was unanimously approved by the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees last week, which includes $40 million in the district’s general fund.
“This is the absolute best (budget) I’ve seen in 19 years,” board member Steve Core said. “It explains it all. It’s graphed out. It was very well done.”
The 2019 legislative session impacted the district’s budget, which included providing $494,348 to the district through an external cost adjustment.
“The good news here is this (external cost adjustment) went a long way in offsetting our loss in enrollment and the decline that caused,” District Business Manager Chris Dean said.
In the general fund, appropriations amounted to $40 million, which included $32.1 million for salaries and benefits. Other appropriations include $2.8 million for the special revenue fund, $1.7 million to the debt service fund, $1.4 million to the food service fund, $1.09 million to student activities, $6.5 million in major maintenance, $1.3 million to capital projects, $1.06 million to the district recreation board fund and $555,000 to an equipment fund.
With ADM, a measure of student attendance which is used to determine funding from the state, the district experienced a decrease in 50 students from last year. Over the last two years, the district is down 138 students.
“Hopefully we’re going to stabilize, but it could be another 35-50 next year,” Dean said. “We’ll find out more in August.”
The board also approved a mill levy for Region V Board of Cooperative Educational Services. The board approved a .2 mill levy, which amounts to $191,556 for the organization. Core said Region V BOCES has kept the board up to date on concerns he had about the organization and convinced him the .2 mill levy is a good idea.
“They will be very appreciative,” board chairwoman Brenda Roosa said.
The board also approved a .5 mill levy for Sweetwater BOCES in a unanimous vote, as well as approved a 1 mill recreation board levy.
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