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The Clark County Public School Board of Education considered financial matters during a meeting held earlier this week.

New year, new budget

The district’s Director of Finance, Aleisha Ellis, briefed the Board on what the budget will look like when the new school year begins July 1.

The Board saw a draft budget earlier this year, which was estimated to be around $66.9 million. Since the winter months that tally has gone up to $73.3 million, including a near $2 million jump for the General Fund from $51. 6 to $53.4 million.

Board Chair Bill Taulbee asked why that was.

“We have collected more in our franchise and motor taxes. I increased those due to having more collections this year. Interest has increased quite a bit. That’s been the biggest increase,” Ellis answered. “Our SEEK (Support Education Excellence in Kentucky) dollars are actually going up. Our certified exceptional children rate increased and they gave us more money on transportation.”

Ellis said that the increase also reflected the pay raises for certified and administrative staff the Board approved earlier in the year.

The rest of the budget is broken down as follows:

• $3.6 million from local, state and federal funds.

• Over $468,000 in funds from SEEK and tax collection

• $4.7 million to the building fund.

• $4.9 million to debt services.

• Over $5 million for food service, which is entirely self-generated by the district’s food services department.

Board member Dora Hall asked about the district’s overall financial health.

Ellis said that she thought the district’s outlook looked healthy.

The budget passed unanimously.

Property purchase

Last Tuesday’s Board went into executive session to discuss the purchase of an unnamed property in Clark County by the district.

During this week’s meeting, the Board authorized Superintendent Dustin Howard to negotiate on its behalf.

Pending Kentucky Department of Education approval the purchase will not exceed $350,000.

Per Kentucky law, Howard could not reveal much about the purchase or negotiation but did inform the Sun it is associated with the new Clark County Preschool project.