Business as Usual at Greenfield School District Annual Meeting

A preliminary 2011-12 school budget representing a spending plan decrease supported by an increase in the tax levy was approved by the public of the on Monday night at the high school's . 

District officials presented a $35,563,584 general fund budget to an audience of about four dozen community members, who by procedure, approved the preliminary with a vote during the annual meeting. 

The preliminary budget shows a $510,483 decrease in general fund compared to last school year, amounting to a cut in general fund spending of 1.4 percent. 

A preliminary levy rate of $11.74 was also approved by the audience during the meeting. The preliminary levy rate represents a 2.2 percent increase from the tax rate in 2010-11 school year.  The total preliminary tax levy presented represents a .87 percent decrease from last year.   

The budget expenses and revenues are preliminary because the district does not yet know its third Friday pupil count and state aid amount, two key figures that will help determine the final budget amounts.

Kristin Kollath, the district's director of business services, used an unchanged pupil count, which has, in general, been the case recently in the district. 

"It offers a conservative number and I didn't want our expenditures to exceed what our revenues will ultimately be," said Kollath, who noted that the enrollment is closing tied to revenue limits. 

Kollath also estimated a 10 percent reduction in state aid. To project the mil rate, Kollath used a 3 percent decrease in valuation. 

"I would say on average, you typically have increases year to year, but we have had some not so usual times and we did have decreases last year," she explained. 

An owner of a $150,000 home, if the predictions are correct, would owe $39 more in school taxes next year compared to last year. For the owner of a $200,000 home, they would owe $52 more compared to last year.  

About 80 percent of the budget is spent on salaries and benefits while the district spends about $9,830 per pupil. 

One of the ways the district has been able to control costs is through a self-funded insurance plan, Kollath explained. The insurance plan, in which the district directly pays medical costs for its employees, allows the district to bank funds that are not used during the year.

"If you have a good year and do not spend all of your money, then the insurance company keep the money and the district doesn't get it," school district administrator Conrad Farner explained how a traditional insurance is disadvantageous for districts.

The annual meeting, which was held in the school's auditorium , when police were called to help control about 130 protesters who attended. Protesters did not attend the meeting Monday night. 

During the meeting, the public also approved to pay school board members $4,200 a year.