Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
Coldwater school district in the black
By Betty Lawrence
COLDWATER - Coldwater schools ended fiscal year 2011-2012 over $600,000 in the black, treasurer Michelle Mawer reported at Tuesday's board of education meeting.
Total revenue was $12,971,731.27 while total expenditures were $12,355,752.07.
Mawer attributed the favorable budget to a higher than usual collection of property taxes and income taxes.
"We're also saving money on the insurance plan, and don't forget, we will be collecting money from the levy that was voted in last spring," she added.
In March, voters approved a 4.1-mill operating levy that will bring in $550,000 annually for five years beginning in 2013.
Board member Todd Bills noted he was pleased with the excess money.
"We thought we were falling off the cliff," he said.
The five-year financial forecast still shows a shortfall in fiscal year 2013 of nearly a half million dollars. The district is losing stimulus money and an additional $500,000 due to the state phasing out the tangible personal property tax.
In other action, board members,
• accepted donations from the athletic boosters of $4,345.50 for football headsets and $4,661.75 for a track and cross country timing system.
• heard annual reports from representatives of the academic promoters, parent teacher organization, athletic boosters and band boosters. The board lauded the work of the groups, and it was noted volunteers are always needed to help implement the programs.
• approved the Body Mass Index (BMI) screening program waiver for the upcoming school year.
• approved extended service days for the upcoming school year for 10 employees and three Tri Star instructors and approved $900 one-time payments to a number of non-certified employees who took the alternate PPO insurance for the new school year in lieu of furlough days.
