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Allen school board approves 2012-13 budget
By Conner Hammett, chammett@starlocalnews.com
The Allen ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district's 2012-2013 budget at the June 18 board meeting.
The vote was taken after a brief budget recap by Deputy Superintendent Mark Tarpley, who outlined the district's priorities moving into this year's budget planning process: teaching staff, compensation and benefits, and student support.
Last year, the district cut more that 70 employees through attrition in response to state budget cuts. Thanks to voter approval of a 13 cent tax increase in October, the district has been able to fill many of those positions and lower class sizes to at least 22 students per teacher at all elementary campuses except Cheatham Elementary, which is awaiting relief from the construction of Lois Lindsey Elementary School in August 2013.
"We provided additional student support by increasing the number of counselors at the secondary level and adding a [campus intervention specialist] at the Lowery Freshman Center, a program that has become very successful and is starting to be modeled by other districts in the area," Tarpley said.
With regard to compensation, employees have been offered a one percent midpoint raise and an additional $40 per month in district contributions to health plans. The board approved language in its salary book last month that will allow it to give employees an additional one-time payment if it so desires later in the year. In-depth discussion regarding possible one-time payments is set for the August board meeting, Tarpley said.
The district expects $140.9 million in revenue this year with $141.5 million anticipated in expenditures. After a $1.37 million transfer from the Kids Club and a $360,000 contribution from the Student Nutrition Fund for overhead expenses related to campus-level utilities, the district anticipates an overall $816,000 increase to the general fund.
In the Student Nutrition Fund, the district expects $7.47 million in revenue with $7.5 million in expenses. A $400,000 decrease to that budget's fund balance represents additional equipment at 14 elementary school campuses, Tarpley said.
The debt service fund, which uses the interest and sinking portion of the district's tax rate to help pay off principal and interest on bonds, amounts to $37.6 million this year, though that number could change when the district receives the certified tax roll in July and proceeds with its bond sale in August, Tarpley said.
The district's tax rate will remain at the state maximum of $1.67 per $100 of valuation, with a $1.17 maintenance and operations rate and a 50 cent debt service rate.
The district will receive its certified tax roll from the Collin County Appraisal District on or around July 25. The setting of the tax rate is set for the August 27 board meeting.
The district's 2012-2013 budget can be viewed at www.allenisd.org.
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