Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND — The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees approved the $24.1 million 2023 fiscal year budget at the annual budget hearing on Wednesday, July 13.
Business Manager Charlie Cauffman reported to the board that the general fund has dropped from $25.8 million for the 2022 fiscal year to $24.1 million for the 2023 fiscal year. He said the decline mirrors the loss to the district for the average daily membership.
He said the funding formula is based mainly from a three-year rolling average of ADM. While the three-year average helps buffer the district the ADM dropped from 1140 last year to 1128 this year and the three-year average dropped from 1213 to 1160.
“We did lose students and we did lose revenue,” Cauffman said.
He said for the general fund the district raises 25 mills, which equals just over $3 million. He said the district is considered an “entitlement district” with local funds covering just 25% of the budget and the state covering 75% of the budget.
The budget includes a raise in the base salary for employees and change to benefits.
The base salary for certified staff increases from $45,000 to $50,000.
Cauffman said they are asking employees to pay 1% more to the Wyoming State Retirement System with the district contribution dropping from 16.37% to 15.37%. They also made a change in insurance, and a change in the board’s Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions.
The board in an earlier meeting also approved allowing movement on steps and lanes, at a cost of about $170,000.
Similar changes were approved for classified staff with a $1.50 per hour added to the base with the minimum hourly wage at $15.50. Cauffman said there were similar changes to the benefit package for classified staff as well.
The overall budget, which includes food service, special revenue, insurance, major maintenance, debt service, capital construction, scholarship, pupil activity, is at $44,116,958.
The overall budget includes more than $600,000 in CARES and ESSER funds that will run out in 2024, Cauffman told the board July 13, and the district will have to consider how to adjust the budget for the loss.
The food services budget includes an increase in lunch prices, approved back in March.
Cauffman said, “With the recent inflation, and to ease the burden to our community the district is subsidizing the program with $250,000.”
He added that the subsidy is an increase from previous years.
“We tried to keep breakfast prices intact as much as we could,” he said.
Lunch prices will increase 25 cents per meal.
Breakfast prices will be $2.25 for elementary students, $2.50 for middle school and $3.10 for high school. Adult prices are $3.10 per meal. Reduced price for those who qualify is 30 cents.
Lunch prices for the new school year will be $3.25 for elementary, $3.50 for middle school and $4.10 for high school. Adult prices are $4.60 and reduced prices are 40 cents.
Cauffman said the average cost of a meal to the district is $5.