School Board approves 2008-09 budget
By Jill Boomer
The Jersey County Star
JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey School Board approved the 2008-09 school district budget after the mandatory budget hearing Wednesday.

Although the district for the 2008-09 school year is running with a $1,633,450 deficit for the year because of existing fund balances, the district will end the 2008-09 school year with an excess of approximately $5,000,000.

District Director of Business Affairs Tammy Steckel told the board that the district should receive approximately $25,386,400 in revenue in 2008-09 but will have an estimated $27,019,850 in expenditures.

“We will have a deficit of approximately $1.2 million in our three most important funds, education, transportation and operations and maintenance,” Steckel said.

The education fund has been hit hardest by budget cuts from the State of Illinois and the federal government.

Steckel said that although 58 percent of district funding for the education fund comes from the state ($10.7 million) it is still short for this year. Local funding (real estate taxes) contributes $6.2 million and federal funding amounts $1.5 million.

The transportation fund gets approximately 78 percent ($1.9 million) of its funding from the State of Illinois and 22 percent comes from local funding. Total amount needed is $2,297,000.

Operations and maintenance is funding 100 percent by local funds. This year the district will receive $1.36 million and will need $1.8 million.

The board approved several bids for several projects using Health, Life, Safety funds.

Approval was given to:
•entrance replacement at Illini Middle School - low bid Jun Construction $34,000;

•roof renovations at East Elementary and Illini Middle School - low bid CMR Roofing $213,000;

•bathroom renovations at East Elementary - low bid Jun Construction $305,400.

The board also heard an enrollment report from District Administrator Alan Churchman noting that this year’s total school enrollment is 2,701.

Churchman said the largest classes in the district is the seventh grade with 229 students and the sophomore class at 264.

Churchman also said that while registration went smoothly this year, there will be some changes in registration next year.

He suggested that registration be moved up one week to July 28, 29, 30 or August 4, 5 and 6.

Also suggested is changing the time to 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.

“It (registration) was a positiv start to the school year,” he added.