Preliminary school budget approved

The Cedar Grove-Belgium School Board unanimously approved the preliminary 2020-2021 annual budget that has a slightly lower levy than last year.

Director of Business Services Kris DeBruine said once state aid is determined on Oct. 15, changes to the overall levy will be managed to keep it stable.

The district’s revenue cap, a limit on how much the state allows districts to spend, is projected to be $4.2 million, down from $4.4 million last year.

That number will be finalized once the total pupil count comes in from the third Friday in September.

The local tax levy is estimated to be $5.571 million, down from $5.6 million last year.

The tax rate is projected to decrease from $9.03 per $1,000 of equalized value to $8.53, but that number won’t be finalized until next week, DeBruine said.

If the $8.53 estimate holds, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $1,706 in school taxes.

The total budget is slated to be $11.94 million, down from $11.985 million last year.

State aid, estimated to be nearly $6.1 million, up from $5.9 million last year, could change. The July estimates are historically accurate — within $100,000, DeBruine said — but this year is different because of the uncertainty of the global pandemic.

“This year it’s kind of a crapshoot. It’s based on how everybody finished their year,” DeBruine said.

Many districts overspent their budgets in preparation for holding school during the pandemic, DeBruine said, while others under spent because they didn’t need to pay as many staff members for online school or for transportation.

Among the projected budget’s notable changes are eliminating all gate income from athletics this year, since spectators are limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“That may change, obviously, if we are able to allow visitors,” Business Manager Tera Rogers said.

Expenses for athletics were kept in the budget, since games, albeit fewer of them, are still being held.

Summer school expenses were taken out since the district didn’t hold summer school this year. Since school districts’ fiscal years start July 1, those costs may be added to next year’s budget, Rogers said.

DeBruine and Rogers put $7,000 into the buildings and grounds fund for wipes, sanitizer or other supplies due to the coronavirus. They assume major purchases, such as cleaning equipment, were already made for the year.

The district used the $56,000 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) for purchases for online instruction.

The district’s annual meeting is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the high school study hall.

State aid is expected to be finalized this month, after which the School Board is required to approve its final budget for submission to the state.