LGISD Must Grab $2 Million From Savings to Meet Budget

Adopting a budget was a top priority at Monday night’s La Grange school board meeting, and the adoption of the tax rate followed.

But this year, things were different. The district is starting the year with a $2,106,634 deficit in the budget. There was a deficit last year as well, in the amount of $992,559. The difference will have to be made up from the fund balance which is currently at approximately $6,200,000. LGISD board members adopted a property tax rate of $0.8153/$100 value which is effectively a 19.84% decrease. The average residence is paying $591.50 less in taxes for this year.

So, why is there a deficit? According to Finance Director Diana Fitzpatrick, there are multiple things that factor in.

1. The state mandates the tax rate. So, when the tax rate went down, the amount given to the district from local funds decreased as well. This means that the state has to make up the difference to get the district to the same dollar amount in funding. Which brings us to number 2.

2. The dollar amount has remained constant since 2019, while expenses for the same items has continued to go up.

3. The state mandated security and monitoring services are going to cost almost $375,000 but the state is only going to pay the district $15,000 per campus ($45,000) and $10 per student ($19,000). That’s only $64,000. The district must make up the difference.

Fitzpatrick also stated that the state mandates that the district keep a 60-day surplus in the fund balance. The current amount in the fund balance is enough to cover 120 days of school, so even if they (the district) have to use $2,000,000 out of the fund balance, there is still a 60-day surplus left in the fund balance.

Personnel

There were five new teachers hired since the last board meeting. Caleb Carlilehigh school science, Elizabeth Kulhanek-elementary 4th grade math and social studies, Kirstin Simon-elementary 3rd grade resource/inclusion, Robert Young-high school PE/Athletics/Softball, and Loren Parker-assistant band director.

Paraprofessional hires include: Kyler Buzek-high school educational aide, Kathryn Kosler-after school care counselor, Lisa Nichols-part time high school food service worker, Alondra Ramirez Aguilar-high school educational aide, Megan Repka-elementary educational aide, and Jennifer Villanueva-high school food service worker. Virginia Weishuhn is transferring from high school cafeteria manager to high school cafeteria worker.

Resignations were received from Molly Bennettsummer technology worker, Hilda Gonzalez-elementary educational aide, and Martha Lara-elementary food service worker.