$1.1 bil. budget OK’d for schools

Terry Webster

Friday, April 14, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

A tentative $1.1 billion budget for 2000-2001, a 7 percent increase over this year, was tentatively approved Thursday by the Clark County School Board.

Most of the $71.5 million increase will be absorbed by costs associated with growth, including a projected 6.4 percent jump in student enrollment, the opening of 10 new schools in 2000-01, and inflation, school officials said.

Revisions can still be made in the budget, which is scheduled to come before the School Board for final approval on May 17.

Walt Rulffes, the Clark County School District's chief financial officer, said two major unknowns -- student enrollment and the final outcome of employee arbitration hearings and employee negotiations -- could impact the final budget.

The student population could grow as large as 231,028, although it would be reported as 223,053 under a state pupil funding formula that counts kindergarten and handicapped preschool students as 0.6 full-time equivalents. The district's current official enrollment is 217,000.

Preliminary projections indicate the state's basic support per student is expected to be $3,630 or $10 less per student, which translates into a $2.2 million drop.

In an effort to minimize spending, a total of $13.5 million worth of additional staff positions, school programs and equipment requests were placed on hold.

That means $5 million in funding would not be available to add elementary school assistant principals and counselors, along with educational computing specialists.

Also, $2.6 million would not be allocated for the additional phase-in of elementary and secondary reading programs, additional days for secondary counselors and additional deans at Horizon High Schools.

A lack of funding for equipment is prompting school officials to study the development of a bond-funded replacement program. A 3 percent inflationary adjustment for equipment would require $800,000. Additionally, departmental equipment requests of $5.1 million were denied.

During public participation Thursday night, School Board critic Louis Overstreet brought up several concerns about the spending plan.

"Again this year, the facilities budget contains basic math mistakes," he said. "It is being proposed to add 30 positions, yet the budget has increased by nearly $4.8 million. The average cost per employee has increased from $43,300 to $53,200.

"Unless you are planning to give every one of the proposed employees a 25 percent raise, the numbers do not add up."

In regular action, School Board members expressed concern about spending money on leased facilities. The board agreed to pay $93,000 per year to lease space at 3750-52 East Desert Inn Road for confidential records and student accounting.

It also approved spending $130,468 per year for leasing property at 4292 S. Maryland Parkway, which houses the planning and engineering department of the facilities division.

Board member Susan Brager said the district would save money in the long run by purchasing new sites, rather than leasing them.

Terry Webster covers education for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-4091 or by e-mail at terry@lasvegassun.com