South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Preliminary 2012-’13 Mehlville budget projects 18.5-percent operating balance

Preliminary Mehlville ’12-’13 budget projects employee pay increase totaling $1.3 million

Mehlville School District officials anticipate an operating fund balance of roughly 18.5 percent at the end of fiscal 2013 — more than 5 percent above the 13-percent limit established by the Board of Education.

However, that is a slight decrease from the expected fiscal 2012 operating fund balance of roughly 21 percent, or $17.6 million, according to information Chief Financial Officer Noel Knobloch provided to the board.

Knobloch, who will present a preliminary 2012-2013 budget to the Board of Education at its meeting today — May 10 — states the actual fund balance will depend on “the final payments received from the state in fiscal 2012 and payments of expenses in the operating funds.”

The district began fiscal 2012 with an overall balance of roughly $25.9 million. Projected revenues are $102,543,607 with projected expenditures at $101,792,536 — a surplus of $751,071. District officials expect to end fiscal 2012 with an overall fund balance of roughly $26.6 million.

Knobloch’s preliminary fiscal 2013 budget projects total revenue of $102,141,000 with projected expenditures of $101,450,000 — a surplus of $691,000. The overall fund balance on June 30, 2013, is estimated at roughly $27.3 million.

Fiscal 2013 revenues, including state revenue, are expected to be consistent with fiscal 2012, according to information Knobloch provided to the board.

The chief financial officer anticipates consistency with district expenditures from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2013, though there are changes within specific budget items.

A salary increase of roughly $1.3 million compared to fiscal 2012 — $59,192,000 to $60,525,000 — is projected due to “granting step and channel changes to certified staff and similar percentages to classified personnel,” according to information provided to the board. That amount is subject to board approval.

Retirement contribution rates will not increase; however, total benefit costs will increase roughly $800,000 compared to fiscal 2012 — $16,721,000 to $17,525,000 — as a result of increased salary levels. Additionally, medical costs could increase from 8 percent to 10 percent “based upon the rising cost and trends within the district’s self-insured plan.”

Supply costs are expected to increase by roughly $600,000 for phase two of the district’s One-to-One Open-Source Pilot Program, along with “expected increases in utilities, fuel and food costs.”

The estimated cost for phase two of the One-to-One program is $428,510, according to information Superintendent Eric Knost provided to the board. Professional development for teachers who volunteered to participate in phase two is expected to cost $25,000. However, that expense is covered through Title II grant money, not the district budget, Knost told the Call.

“(The professional development is) all funded out of current Title II money,” Knost said. “It’s not additional money, it’s federal Title II grant money. We’re real pleased about that. There’s some neat things that will come along with that.”

The One-to-One Committee, according to Knost, believed professional development should be a “three-year effort,” but Knost approved one year because he does not want the district to get ahead of itself.

“I know we’re going to be in this for next year, and if I didn’t feel we were going to be in it beyond that, I probably wouldn’t be expanding it right now,” he said, “But I want it to stay a pilot, and I want to learn from the pilot …”

As the Call previously reported, Knost also expects to bring a solar-energy project to the board. Requests for proposals were sent out April 30 with a closing of May 9. As of Friday, Knost said the district had not received any response, but he anticipates some responses will be submitted.

“You usually get them in the last few days … but I’m confident we will have some to discuss at the board meeting,” he said.

Other items on today’s agenda include:

• Approval of phase two of the One-to-One Open-Source Pilot Program.

• Consideration of the 2012-2013 school calendar.

• Consideration of the certified employees discussion agreement. Employees were scheduled to vote on the proposal Wednesday.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building, 3120 Lemay Ferry Road.

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