School Board uses fund to cover budget deficit
ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board had to use $500,000 from a “rainy day fund” to avoid a major deficit in its general fund for the fiscal year that ended June 30, the school system’s finance director said Tuesday.
The special fund was set up with extra proceeds from a half-cent sales tax voters approved in 2010 for foreign language programs in its elementary schools and technology expenditures.
In approving the budget last year, the board anticipated using $500,000 to balance the budget, Finance Director Ruthie Davis said.
One of the chief reasons for the deficit spending was a $789,000 increase in retirement costs passed down by state retirement boards, she said.
Even with the extra dollars, the general fund ended with a $48,694 deficit for the year, which lowered the surplus to $2.6 million, Davis said.
The board is expected to adopt the current year’s budget in September, but will have extra revenue from a second half-cent sales tax that voters approved earlier this year. The tax went into effect July 1.
Other topics included:
SUPERINTENDENT RATING: Superintendent Hollis G. Milton earned a lump sum payment of $3,259 in incentive pay and will receive a 3 percent pay raise for 2012-13, based on an evaluation by board members and the terms of his contract.
Milton received 33 ‘yes” votes indicating members thought he met expectations in six performance areas, four “no” votes and five “non-votes,” board President Kevin Beauchamp said.
Milton’s salary will be $112,805 for the coming year.
RESIGNATION: Board Vice President Sarah Wilson-Rogers announced she is giving up her leadership post effective immediately because she is working on her doctorate at Southern University this fall. The board elected Milton Coats as her replacement.
LUNCH PRICE HIKE: The board voted to raise prices by 10 cents for the noon meal. Elementary students will pay $1.65 per meal, and middle and high school students will pay $1.90.