CISD Trustees okay $5.6 million FY 2017 budget

The Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees approved a $5.6 million budget for fiscal year 2017 during a called meeting last Monday, August 22.

The new budget will be about $130,000 higher than the current budget, and Superintendent Mike Norrell says the increase is mainly due to step raises for teachers and a 2.25 percent increase for at-will employees of the district.

Norrell said the budget is based on an average daily attendance of 440 students, just as last year’s budget was. Clarendon ISD’s enrollment Tuesday morning was sitting at 471.

The superintendent also said the district is not planning in major upgrades or renovations in the physical plant, but part of a $140,584 line item will be used to make upgrades to the school’s computer network servers. That expense will be partially covered by some federal funds the district will receive.

The $5.6 million budget includes $244,558 for food services.

Claredon ISD will maintain its current tax rate of $1.17 per $100 valuation as approved by voters three years ago. Due to higher property values, that tax rate will generate about $1.6 million in revenue, an increase of about $200,000 from last year.

Norrell said the school does receive some payments in lieu of taxes from the Salt Fork Wind Project, which generated about $45,000 last year and is expected to bring in a similar amount this year. The remaining funds to support the fiscal year 2017 budget will come from state appropriations and other sources.

The fiscal year for Clarendon ISD begins on October 1.

In other business last week, trustees accepted a bid on tax delinquent property in Howardwick, and approved a Legal Services Agreement with Eichelbaum Wardell as presented.