The
2020-21 Budget
NO BIG CHANGES, NO SURPRISES
Mercer taxpayers
can feel some relief from a school 2020-21 budget that contains no big changes
or surprises, which is in stark contrast to several years ago. But they can also
expect a surprising small decrease in school taxes.
The
school board approved a budget Monday which will result in a small 1.5%
increase in total expenditures, rising $53,311 from $3,487,802 in 2019-20 to $3,541,113
in 2020-21. The slight decrease in
school taxes will result from an increase in property valuation in the school
district and a slightly lower levy rate.
The proposed budget sets the annual tax levy at $2,251,298, dropping the
millage rate slightly to 4.74% from 4.82% last year.
Plans for
the school district’s annual meeting and budget hearing at 5 pm. Monday,
February 26, were also announced at the Monday meeting. The meeting will be held “in-person” in the
school’s gymnasium with face masks required and seating at social
distances. Until now, Mercer residents could
attend regular board meetings only by the Zoom method.
According
to the proposed budget, the contentious Fund 80 budget will rise $36,846, from
$120,874 in 2019-20 to $157,720 for 2020-21. Partly responsible for the increase were
required additions to the middle school sports program. Just a few years ago much of the Fund 80 money
was spent on undocumented payments to the former administrator and select staff
members. Back then the Fund 80 budgets
were often more than $250,000.
A bit of
unpleasant news announced at Monday’s school board meeting was school enrollment
numbers. PreK-12 grades enrollment is down about 10% to
128 students. It was noted that many
schools have the problem of decreased enrollments because of smaller family
sizes and working couples waiting longer to start their families.
Monday’s
budget meeting lasted almost two hours with numerous questions and discussion. It was available to the public via Zoom. Under the old regime, the school board’s budget
meetings were held in private in the administrator’s office. Another sign that we are headed in the right
direction.
One driver with the reduction in attendance is parents are sending their HS kids to Lakeland. Why? Hmmmm..... Still waiting on how the Administrator and School Board are going to improve ATC scores and keep high school kids at Mercer.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the Groundskeeper (Adam) going to clean up the outside back of the school? Its unsafe, unorganized and unsecured! Our taxpayer resources are open to theft!
My kids go to school at Mercer and they always ask why is Adam Kussard always walking around inside the school without a mask but all the kids have to wear a mask?
DeleteInteresting.
Another fine Mercer example of not getting what you pay for.
DeleteBut don't overlook the elephant in the room, that the curriculum and delivery of it, has students at the bottom of barrel as far as state testing results.
ReplyDeleteCould it be that parents are looking for something better for their children? Can you blame them?
10 percent decrease in number of students? For many years I think the numbers were rising. What has happened to the number that open enroll out and open enroll in? If there is a higher negative relationship why is that? How many students are in a class in the elementary and high schhol electives? Will this decrease continue? What are the future plans for this-do we pay teachers full time if there are small classes?
ReplyDeleteAll good questions—and cuts might need to be made.
Time to consolidate both schools in Iron County and build a new one in a mutual location like Oma.
ReplyDeleteWould you really need to build a new one? Is something wrong with the facility in Hurley?
Delete