District No. 1 overall budget increases $2 million from last year

WORLAND – The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees approved a $43.8 million budget for the 2016- 2017 fiscal year on Wednesday evening, and the superintendent explained how the some of the funds are split up.

The school’s budget is broken into nine categories including $25,489,133 in general finds with a 25 mill levy that is primarily used for salaries. Superintendent David Nicholas said 80 percent of the general fund is used for teachers’ salaries district-wide.

The other categories accounted for in the budget are $6,636,560 in special revenue, $4,760,456 in private trust, $2,731,545 in capital construction, $1,791,926 in debt service with a 6.150 mill levy, $970,053 in food service, $546,628 in recreational district with one mill levy and $450,867 in pupil activity.

Business Manager Jack Stott said in the 2015 – 2016 fiscal year the school received 75 percent funding in general funds from the state and he expects this year to be higher contribution from the state because local valuation is down.

While local revenues decrease, Nicholas explained, the district receives more money from the state to balance funds. “The guaranteed amount from the state is based on our average daily membership, and we’re required by law to levy 25 mills in the district … so when the assessed valuation goes down that means there will be less local revenue received and the state makes up for that difference.”

He added, “Our assessed valuation went down significantly from $124 million to $103 million and that is reflected by energy decrease.”

The private trust fund is made of the Worland Aquatic Center endowment and scholarships. “The endowment was part of the penny sales tax to support the WAC, the scholarship is revenue we keep to support students to go to college,” Nicholas said.

Last year, the district gave nearly $300,000 in scholarships for students.

“The Worland Recreation Center, with the one mill, will take in approximately $103,000. They had some (funds) carry over, so that number in the budget represents the new monies recovered from that one mill, in addition to their carry over,” Nicholas said.

“We have an insurance trust fund and we’re using $100,000 out of that to contribute to the insurance benefit plan for our employees to lessen their burden,” Nicholas said, “and that money was put into a trust after we entered a new plan.”

He added the money is only eligible to be used for those benefits.

Included in the $43.8 million budget is $3,321,477 to be raised in tax requirements.

Though declining revenues from the mineral industry have affected budgets statewide, the school district’s budget increased from the previous fiscal year. In the 2015-2016 fiscal year budget, the district’s budget was $41 million.

Nicholas said the increase in budget is because of the Groathouse Construction settlement with the Worland Aquatic Center and accounted for $1,750,000 in this year’s budget.

“In the school budget we gave steps and lanes for raises,” Nicholas added.

Nicholas explained the steps and lanes are part of the salary movement schedule. “Depending on where you’re at … the lane movement is obtained through higher education that’s worth a certain amount of money … and each year you’re here that’s worth a step and a certain amount of money.”