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Show School Board looks ahead Formal approval of the 1978-79 fiscal budget for the Iron County School District was approved following a public hearing Friday night, June 30. The board approved a $9.4 million dollar budget which included $2.7 million in carry over funds from a $3.4 million dollar bond approved by the voters of Iron County in May 1977. Dr. Clair Morris, Superintendent of the Iron County School District indicated in-dicated that the budget was based on income from all levels of government and an estimated assessed valuation of $55 million for Iron County with a 98 percent collection factor. For the purpose of the uniform school funding program through the state the budget reflects an estimated 4,594 weighted pupil units (WPU) which are reimbursed at the rate of $795 each. The board made several adjustments ad-justments in the proposed budget prior to its adoption but left only $33,157 in undistributed reserves which is considerable less than the recommended five percent, or approximately ap-proximately $242,000 in maintenance and operation. the bonding money and $10,000 is federal funds. "This year, for the first time, and maybe the last, Iron County qualifies for Emergency Building Funds from the state," Dr. Morris indicated. That $340,000 is included in the capital outlay budget and already bids have been let for an additional two rooms at the Eat Elementary to be built through this funding source. Other items in the budget included $314,406 for food services, $13,475 to meet the tort liability of the district and $83,706 for recreation. The increase in recreation funds Maintenance and Operation budget was set at $4,836,049. Of that amount approximately 65 percent, $3.14 million will be money collected through the state based on the WPUs, of the total amount only 30.4 percent or $1 .45 million will be collected at the county level through property tax. "Our situation is somewhat different dif-ferent than in California," Dr. Morris emphasized. "In California nearly the entire educational system is supported sup-ported through property taxes. In our budget only 30.4 percent is from Iron County property tax. The state fund-s," fund-s," he says "are collected through other taxing sources such as sales tax and income tax." In capital outlay the budget was set at $4,140,782 including a carryover of bond money to pay for construction projects already underway. The funds will be used for the expansion now underway at Cedar East Elementary and for the new Enoch Elementary, already under construction, and for improvements at Parowan High School which is scheduled to be bid in July. The total allocation for new construction was $3 million. Of the remaining $1.07 million will be raised from property tax levy in Iron County. Approximately $60,000 will be raised through investment of was felt necessary by the board to meet the district's obligation in the operation of the swimming pool complex. The mill levy was raised from .8 of a mill to 1.25 mills to accomodate ac-comodate that need. In addition to the on going building program the board identified a concern with the development of an adequate maintenance program. The board recognizerd a need to increase the amount budgeted for substitute teachers to accomodate a change in policy that provides for addition pay on long-term subsittution needs. The total budget for instruction was set at $2,799,233 of which $2,237,260 is salaries for teachers. Adjustments were made in the operation of plant expenditures in anticipation of increased energy costs - electricity and fuel. The board also reviewed the proposed budget for the Southwest Education Development Center in the amount of $195,101. The SEDC serves seven districts in the southern Utah area and Iron County serves as the fiscal agent. After a review the budget was ratified. It had previously been approved ap-proved by the Board of Directors represented by each of the districts and Southern Utah State College. |