Goodrich ? Reducing Goodrich Schools? rainy day fund is not intentional, says superintendent Raymond Green.
While last year’s rainy day fund was approximately 15 percent, the 2004-2005 school budget was cut to 12 percent, still considered a healthy amount.
‘The board would love to retain the full fund balance,? said Green, who says the board is dealing with a $377,000 deficit carried over from the 2003-2004 budget year.
‘The per-pupil (state allowance) has been static at $6,700 for the third year in a row, and we haven’t received all that,? Green said.
An executive-order reduction in December 2003 also left schools carving extra money out of budgets last year while the ‘cost of everything? is rising, he said.
Projected state revenue in the 2004-2005 budget is based on the expectation that this year’s $6,700 per-pupil foundation allowance won’t be cut.
‘Am I confident about that?? said Green, laughing. ‘I don’t know about confident, but hopefully it won’t be cut.?
Based on last year’s increase of 72 students in the school district, this year’s budget revenue was conservatively based on an increase of 40 students, accounting for an additional $268,000 in the budget.
Recent school district growth has been steady, says Green, but the net increase of students has varied from as few as 15 to as many as 80. Ten new students are already accounted for, having opted into the district via Genesee County’s Schools of Choice program, and more students are expected to move into the district as a result of new housing.
The budget is based on the levy of six mills on homesteads and an estimated 17.8641 additional mills on non-homestead property, which was reauthorized during the June 14 school board meeting, at which the board approved the 2004-2005 budget.