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Board Meeting June 16, 2009 R-2 OKs Spending Plans The Chillicothe R-2 School District began the 2008-09 fiscal year with about $2.9 million in all funds and will end the year with about $763,000 shy of that mark. However, according to Dr. Linda Gray Smith, superintendent, the gap between expenditures and revenues is somewhat typical this time of year. “June is a big revenue month,” Smith explained. She added that the district will collect revenues throughout the month along with funds from any grant projects. “We know what the expenditures are, but we don’t yet know what the revenues are,” she explained. Board members officially amended the budget to reflect actual expenditures and actual revenues last (Tuesday) night at district headquarters during the regular June meeting — the last regular meeting of the fiscal year. While other factors including lower state sales tax revenue and less funds in the Classroom Trust Fund, yielded less revenue than what had been anticipated (about $21,000), Smith told board members that the primary reason for the $170,000 drop in revenue for the fiscal year was due to the Grand River Technical School’s building trades home, which has not yet been sold. The home, at 2020 Lakewood Drive, was to be sold by sealed bid in May. However, no qualified bids were received by the established deadline. GRTS Co-director Ron Wolf told the board that the home will be sold to the first qualified bidder with an acceptable bid. The home is valued at $265,000. Following the short discussion, the board approved the 2008-09 amended budget to reflect a $1,733,323.28 balance in the district’s general operating fund (Fund 1), and a total of all funds by June 30 of $2,145,330.40. In other financial matters, the board approved the 2009-2010 budget, which reflects a $268,418.87 spending deficit by the end of the 2010 fiscal year. Smith told board members that the 2009-10 budget was "very preliminary," and more details will be developed by September. In related business, the board approved a $214,000 bid submitted by Irvinbilt, of Chillicothe, for the construction of the two exterior walls at CMS following the demolition of the old high school building. Board member Randy Constant termed the bids as "worst case scenarios" because the amount of work necessary to build the exterior walls won't be known until the project is underway. "This wall is a cluster of misinformation until we get to that point," Constant said. Also during the meeting, the board approved several money transfers with very little discussion, including more than a $10 million transfer to Fund 2 to cover certified pay for the 2008-09 year, a $1.2 million transfer to Fund 4 to cover capital project expenditures for the 2008-09 and a transfer of up to $845,135 to Fund 4 for the demolition of the old high school, the construction of the middle school wall, the construction of the agriculture building and other renovation projects to be completed in 2010-2011. In other business, the board approved contracting the Grand River Technical School's building trades home next year. Wolf told board members that he has already heard from a few people who have expressed interest in the project. Those interested in having a home built by the building trades class should submit bids to the GRTS by July 6. Chillicothe board members also:
Before adjourning the regular meeting, the board received an update on the learning cottage, which is still being assembled at the Chillicothe Middle School. Jim's Mobile will be fixing drywall, flooring, cleaning or replacing carpets and cleaning the interior and exterior along with painting the exterior if needed. The district has not paid the mobile home company any money and will not do so until the learning cottage meets the district's standards. |
