Bay District board approves tentative budget for advertising; officials cite $13 million reserve and staffing cuts

The Bay District School Board voted July 24 to approve a tentative budget for advertising only, setting a path to a public hearing and final adoption on Sept. 11.

The vote allows the district to publish its tentative millage and budget figures while staff continue to refine revenue estimates and identify further savings. Jim (staff member), who presented the budget highlights, told the board that “the purpose of this meeting is strictly for you to approve a document so that we can advertise it.”

Board members were presented with an executive summary showing total budget reductions compared with the prior year and a general-fund unappropriated balance projected at about $13,000,000, down from roughly $15,500,000 the year before. Jim said the district’s total budget has fallen from about $669,000,000 last year to about $648,000,000 in the proposed figures. He said staff are continuing to look for additional cuts as revenue numbers evolve.

Why it matters: approving the tentative budget begins the legally required advertisement period and opens a public comment window before the board sets a final millage and budget. Board members raised concerns about state funding uncertainty, the effect of the Opportunity Scholarship/home-voucher program on revenue, and the impact of personnel reductions on classrooms.

Key details

- Fund balance and timeline: The proposed unappropriated fund balance is approximately $13,000,000; the board was told the district aims to leave about $10,000,000 to maintain operations if revenue falls short. The schedule staff outlined includes a more detailed public presentation on July 31, a workshop between tentative and final budgets on Aug. 26, and final adoption on Sept. 11.

- Millage and taxes: Staff said the district’s required local effort millage is rising from about 3.063 to about 3.089 (an increase of 0.026 mills). The district’s rollback rate was presented as 5.2845 and the proposed village rate as about 5.337, described as roughly a 1% increase compared with the rollback calculation. Staff illustrated that for a $200,000 taxable value the change would equal about $5.20 annually.

- Program and position reductions: To close budget gaps after updated revenue figures, staff removed or paused several positions and initiatives from the proposed budget. Those included master-teacher positions approved at a prior meeting (now pulled back temporarily), an instructional specialist (art) not filled, two ESE coordinator positions not filled at this time, a media specialist position that had not been approved, three staff-training specialists, an athletic clerk position, and a facilities operations specialist. The presentation also showed an internal-auditor item ($161,000) removed from the superintendent’s line. Staff said most of the listed positions are currently vacant.

- State funding and voucher concerns: Board members and staff discussed uncertainty tied to state funding calculations and to the Opportunity Scholarship/home-voucher program. Jim said the district had a roughly $2,000,000 reduction reflected in the fund balance year over year and flagged uncertainty about future state reconciliations (the presenter referenced a forthcoming “final calculation” or “fourth calc” from the state). Board members noted that the state reported a large increase in students registered for the voucher/home-voucher program and said the district does not control that enrollment process.

- Federal and other dollars: Staff noted variability in Title I–V (federal) funding and said final allocations are not yet certain. Board members queried an increase in a teacher salary allotment (TSIA); presenters and a different staff member gave differing figures in the meeting (one referenced $600,000, another $400,000); the district presented the figure as “smaller” than last year’s allotment and described it as insufficient to cover all salary pressures.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve the tentative budget for advertising only. - Mover: Miss Leonard. - Second: Mr. Chester. - Roll call: Miss Leonard — yes; Mr. Chester — yes; Mr. Moore — yes; Mr. Register — yes; Mr. Moss — yes. - Outcome: approved.

What remained open: Staff and board members repeatedly said figures could change between the advertising action and final adoption, and that the district would continue to seek further cuts if revenues come in below projections. The board will receive a fuller presentation and opportunity for public input before the Sept. 11 final vote.