With half of the school year behind them, members of the Kent School Board on March 25 listened to budget projections for the remainder of this year before hearing about the potential cuts for next year.<\/p>\n
According to Executive Director of Finance John Knutson, the Kent School District<\/a> has reined in spending for the year, but despite being on pace to spend nearly $1 million less than projected, the district will still be living beyond its means for the 2008-2009 school year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt shows the district again spending more than we received in revenue,\u201d Knutson told the board.<\/p>\n To make up the difference, the district will dip into its fund balance again to the tune of nearly $2 million. Though that amount is approximately half of what was projected, it should still drop the undesignated fund balance to approximately $11.8 million, bringing into question whether the board will be able to meet its policy to retain a 5 percent fund balance.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s uncertain that the year-end 5 percent requirement will be met,\u201d Knutson said. \u201cIn fact, I\u2019d say it\u2019s unlikely.\u201d<\/p>\n Knutson based his figures and projection on the district\u2019s budget numbers through February.<\/p>\n Knutson also looked ahead to the 2009-2010 budget, on which the board is currently working.<\/p>\n Using the governor\u2019s proposed budget<\/a> from December, Knutson said it looked as though there would be no cost of living increases for staff this year, a decrease in retirement rates and a 6 percent increase in health-care allocation, raising the amount per employee per month to $774 from $732.<\/p>\n Knutson said levy money and levy equalization funds should add $1.7 million to the district budget next year, down more than $1 million from the 2008-2009 increase.<\/p>\n Knutson said that was due to an increase in assessed valuation in the Kent district.<\/p>\n \u201cRelative to the state, we went up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The board is currently working on the 2009-2010 budget and is expecting a drop in state funding as well as an increase in spending to make Kent teacher salaries more competitive.<\/p>\n On average, teachers in Kent are among the lowest-paid within the Puget Sound school districts.<\/p>\n