The Bainbridge Island School Board unanimously approved the district’s budget for the 2016-2017 school year at its final meeting in August.
This year, the district will spend $44.8 million from its general fund, the pot of money which covers staff salaries, special education and vocational support.
Spending has been increased by $2.2 million, up from $42.6 million last year, to cover salary increases and new support services positions.
The district has increased certificated staffing by 0.7 full-time employees and classified staffing by 1.42 FTE with the addition of a facility use coordinator, a custodial supervisor and a transportation director, as well as expanded hours in human resources and technology.
Spending will exceed revenue by $740,104, district officials said, though the ending fund balance is expected to be $2.4 million, or 5.3 percent of the total, in accordance with board policy mandating a minimum 5 percent reserve.
The budget accounts for 3,769 students.
At the preliminary count, before the school year began, enrollment was 3,843.
A final count will be taken the first week of October.
The capital projects fund, which is separate from the general fund, is budgeted at $11.5 million. It includes funds for remaining projects related to the 2009 bond measure and new projects authorized by the 2016 bond measure.
Though the budget vote was unanimous, one school board director expressed concerns that the 2016-2017 budget would not be sustainable moving into 2017-2018.
School Board Member Tim Kinkead is worried about the looming levy cliff, which, without legislative action, will force the district to reduce tax collections.
“State law will reduce local education taxes beginning Jan. 1, 2018 unless the Legislature acts,” Kincaid said.
“Had the Legislature passed constitutional funding bills the expiration of the temporary measure implemented during the financial crisis would not be critical. Without constitutional funding, the levy cliff creates an urgent issue. The Legislature’s contempt for the state Constitution and the related McCleary finding continued the status quo of under resourcing education and is slowly eroding the district’s ability to attract and retain talent in the teacher profession.”
That said, the district continues to put its money where its mouth is, with 85.5 percent of the budget dedicated to staff salaries.
“Research shows that educators make the biggest difference in student learning,” Kinkead explained.
