A San Benito High School District budget for 2015-16 included about $1.6 million in one-time state funding, reflected a loss of about $1 million in Regional Occupational Center/Program revenue and was unanimously approved by trustees at a meeting Wednesday.
While the high school was deficit spending by $969,808 in 2014-15, that won’t be the case this year “due to the one-time revenues budgeted for this year,” according to the annual budget report shared with trustees.
The 2015-16 budget included the minimum state mandated reserve of 3 percent—or $908,903—in reserves. Of the general fund expenditures, 78.51 percent went toward employee salary and benefits, according to the presentation.
The budget shows the loss of about $1 million in Regional Occupational Center/ Program revenue but an increase of about $1.6 million—or $601 per average daily attendance—in one-time money. Increased one-time funding from the state has allowed the district to continue that program without transferring revenues from reserve funds, the report explained.
The “big news,” according to the superintendent’s message in the report, was that the 2015-16 state budget provided the “highest increase in education funding ever.” In addition to the one-time money, the district will also get about $400 more per ADA from the state, according to the report.
Added costs for the 2015-16 budget include the implementation of a 4 percent salary increase for all employees, which will mean about $700,000 in costs. Additionally, the escalation of California State Teachers’ Retirement System and California Public Employees’ Retirement System rates will mean about $200,000 more in statutory benefits costs.
During the presentation, Roseanne Lascano, the director of finance and operations, highlighted potential sources of additional funding that included increasing daily attendance and qualifying for concentration grants.
In the last school year, students came to school 94.6 percent of the time, and since the district is paid based on attendance and not enrollment that resulted in a loss of $1.2 million dollars in revenue, Lascano said.
“It’s just a huge number I want you to be aware of,” she told trustees.
“That’s almost a swimming pool,” said Board President Ray Rodriguez, referring to earlier public comments in the meeting where disgruntled swimmers complained about the campus’ closed pool.
Lascano highlighted a second source of potential additional funds in concentration grants, awarded based on the number of students who qualify for at least one of these three target categories: English language learners,low-income youth or foster children.
More than 55 percent of the district’s students must qualify for at least one of these categories to qualify the district for the grant, the report explained. The district currently has about 50 percent of students qualifying, Lascano said.
The board president asked for an estimate showing the amount of money that grant could provide to the district. Superintendent John Perales said it was almost $300,000.
