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Show ii i 1 School board okays $82 million budget building aid appropriation of 20 percent Dr. Lloyd said the change in state property assessment rules giving Utah County extra assessed value is also reflected in the budget Revenues from property taxes for the purpose of financing the -see School Budget Page 3 Only a handful of patrons were I present when the Alpine District Board of Education passed a nearly $82 million budget for the 1984-85 ; school year at their May 12 t I meeting. f The only change in the budget was a $2,000 reduction in the Tort -1 liability Fund, which means a decrease of 1.1 mil. The decrease was recommended by the Utah Taxpayers Association to bring the .faid in line with the state law. I Daniel Fugal, a member of the .toard, noted the change would amount to only two ten-thousandth of the nearly $82 million total. Dr. Charles Lloyd, board clerk, J explaining the budget said it reflects an enrollment increase of 1,932 students or 2'2 large elementary schools. He said the 1,765 graduating seniors in the district will be replaced this fall by 3,513 kindergarten students. Also shown in the budget is the state guarantee for each child which was increased this year by four percent; severely multiple handicapped student weighting which increased from 4.3 to 5.2; and the fact summer vacational education has been approved by the state for expansion to other vocational programs than just home economics. The employers retirement contribution was decreased from 1 1 .5 percent to 1 1 percent, Dr. Lloy d said; and the teachers contribution decreased from 1.5 percent to 1 percent which will mean a J5 percent increase in their take-home pay. The teacher salary schedule increase of 3.2 percent and the step- and-line cost increases of 2.3 percent are also reflected in the budget. Dr. Lloyd said 15 elementary teachers are being hired to release other elementary teachers during the week for teacher preparation time. He said a total of $1,220,063 was allocated to the district for a teacher only career ladder program. This, he said, amounts to a five percent increase in the money allocated to the district's teachers from the 1983-84 year to the 1984-85 year. He reported a drop in the state School budget , (Continued from page 1) general program, field trips, hazardous routes, tort liability claims, community recreation, and the school building program were 51 all limited to six percent increase J8 (except from new construction increases). This reduced the ending balances in all funds except "Debt Services" for the coming school H year. 1 Because of the six percent legislative rule on revenues, I Alpine's school taxes dropped from 42.50 to 40.88 mills. School lunch costs are to be increased by at least five cents, he said, and, if the interest rate doesn't get too high, the district will need to sell 11 'A million dollars of building : bonds in order to construct an intermediate school and an ' elementary school. Dr. Clark L. Cox, district ' superintendent, called the budget a "working budget" and said it will be updated through the year as changes are needed. He said a book detailing the specific budget is being made up and will be available to the public. Howard Stevenson, Utah Taxpayers Association, commended commen-ded the board for being sensitive to taxpayers need and putting off the leeway vote this year. In suggesting the debt service fund be lowered by $2,000, he said this would mean the district would be "complying not only with the letter but also the spirit of the law." |