Fort Dodge schools amend budget for 2008-2009
By EMILIE NELSON, Messenger staff writerThe Fort Dodge Community School District Board of Education recently approved an amendment of approximately $1.6 million to its general budget.
The change comes as a result of a slight underestimate of the projected budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which ends June 30, Jack Christensen, Fort Dodge Community Schools director of finance said.
"Each year, we set a budget and certify it not knowing exactly what we will really be spending," said Christensen. "We try to estimate what the expenditures are going to be for specific categories and make an estimate for about 16 to 18 months of spending."
The amendment increased instruction costs from $26,677,630 to $27,422,127, total support services from $12,635,517 to 13,142,851 and other expenditures from $982,680 to $1,393,095.
The district received federal stabilization monies through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which saved several staff positions that had been threatened due to budget cuts. Christensen said the amendment and the money covering it are completely separate from those funds. The money used to make up the difference in expenses came from the district's cash reserves, which Christensen said is money set aside similar to a savings account.
Cash reserves are most often used for the district's general fund and special education deficits.
"They're often used to fund expenses when we're not receiving funds," he said. "We don't receive property tax money or state aid in July and August, but we still have $2 to $3 million in expenses to pay."
Some of the items funded within the amended categories are salaries, benefits, consultants, maintenance and construction projects.
Contact Emilie Nelson (515) 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net
