Mexico school board approves new budget

Estimated at over $33M

By Alan Dale Managing Editor
Posted 6/27/22

The District No. 59 school board approved the 2023 fiscal year budget at just over $33 million Tuesday night.

All told, $11,350,160 will come from the general find, $17,085,770 out of the …

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Mexico school board approves new budget

Estimated at over $33M

Posted

The District No. 59 school board approved the 2023 fiscal year budget at just over $33 million Tuesday night.

All told, $11,350,160 will come from the general find, $17,085,770 out of the teacher’s fund, $2,490,000 will draw from debt service while capital projects are expected to cost $2,271,755.

District Expenditures are budgeted to increase by about 3 percent over the previous budgeted amount.

The increase is primarily due to personnel costs associated with increases in compensation to both certified and non-certified staff. Other expenditure accounts have been adjusted higher to account for increases in goods and services.

District revenue is budgeted to increase by about 9 percent over the previous year due in large part to the increase in federal funds available through ESSER. Federal funds have the potential to offset any reduction in fund balances as the district has allocations in excess of $5.5 million in relief funds to access over the next two budget years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former district superintendent Zach Templeton, who was brought on as a consultant, gave the presentation regarding the budget to the board.

The regular average daily attendance for students K-12 for the 2022-23 regular school term is expected to be an estimated 2,100 with summer school anticipated 100 kids in session – with 2,100 and 99.07 expected for the final 2021-22 count.

In 2020-21, those numbers were 1840.90 and 17.74 during the first year of COVID-19.

Other items

The board approved the base teacher salary to increase to $40,000 per year. Existing support staff raises ranged from 11 percent (food service workers) to 7 percent (maintenance) and 6 percent (custodial workers). Administrative salaries were increased ranging from 7 to 5 percent.

The board approved the 2022-23 meal prices as follows: Middle school (free due to Community Eligibility Provision); High School (lunch/$2.90, lunch reduced/$.40, breakfast/$1.30, breakfast reduced/$.30, staff/visitor lunch at $3.80, staff/visitor breakfast at $2.35 while the elementary students will continue to receive free meals.

The board approved rental costs for the district that included $350 for 0-4 hours at Mexico High School’s Gary Filbert Court (excluding the locker rooms) and $85 for each additional hour.

Also, the high school’s Gooch Gym ($200/$50), Lobby/sports complex ($150/$35), cafeteria ($100/$25), and auditorium ($200/$50) were also listed. Mexico Middle School’s new ($350/$85) and old ($200/$50) gyms and the elementary school’s gym ($100/$25) were also presented.

The board approved a Flow Master Construction for the maintenance and repair of parking areas bid in the amount of $121,280.00, $192.00 per hour prep and fill asphalt cracks, $246.00 per box installed of 30# crack filler, + $30,000 budgeted by the district for crack fill maintenance.

Two bids were received.

In recognition of Juneteenth, the board approved the adoption of the holiday to the school calendar and summer classes will not be held on that day in 2023.


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