Lebanon schools 2010 budget

Our July meeting was as close to "routine" as I've seen the board get. We paid the bills and approved the hiring of some teachers and other personnel. We also approved a resolution to advertise the budget for 2010, which is a legal requirement (the resolution, the advertisement, and the budget are all legal requirements). The board met in a long budget workshop last week and went over the nuts, bolts, and fine print of the various funds that make up the budget.

Here's something interesting about the LCSC 2010 budget that's being proposed: It's smaller than the 2009 advertised budget. That's right, smaller.

The way the budget process works we "advertise" a budget, which is what we're asking the state to approve. We advertise high, knowing that the folks in Indianapolis (specifically the Department of Local Government Finance, a place shrouded in mystery) will make some cuts. Eventually, they approve or "certify" the budget. It's like asking for a larger salary than you know you'll get, hoping that you'll eventually get what you needed or wanted in the first place.

Here are a few figures: In 2009 we advertised a budget of $39,817,791; the state certified our budget at $36,244,194. For 2010 we're advertising a budget of $37,343,552, anticipating that it will be certified at several million dollars less than that.

What has happened to your tax rate? Per $100 of assessed value, LCSC property owners paid $1.54 in 2008, and $1.19 in 2009. The rate we're advertising for 2010 is $1.2643, but it will probably be certified between $1.05 and $1.15

Why is our budget shrinking slightly? The state budget passed last month has the Lebanon schools slated to receive a .7% increase for this year, and a .7% decrease for next year--essentially "flat-lining" our budget. The largest factor in determining our state dollars is our enrollment, which is steady. But costs like utilities and insurance keep climbing, so we're economizing where we can while striving to insure quality programs and reasonable class sizes.

The budget process is painstaking, but I'm getting the hang of it. The corporation CFO and assistant superintendent Charles Tait is very good at his job, which includes preparing the budget and explaining it to the board. Unfortunately there is almost no public attendance or participation in the budget process, although it's all accomplished in public meetings, and in much more detail than I've offered here. If you have any interest in learning more, budget documents are available for review at the administration office, and the budget will be advertised in The Reporter. I also have a file folder with all sorts of figures in it, and I'm willing to share it, if you'd like to contact me to arrange a meeting.