BCSC looks to increase budget by 1.2 percent

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be looking at an increase in spending of just over 1 percent next year.

The school board heard a presentation on next year’s budget during a work session at last night’s meeting. A formal public hearing on the budget is set for Sept. 26th at Southside Elementary School.

Dr. Vaughn Sylva, assistant superintendent for financial services, explains that the proposal would mean a balanced budget in all funds.

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The budget is built with an anticipation of a slight increase in assessed value throughout the school district, although the community still hasn’t recovered to the level of assessed values it had prior to the 2008 economic crash.

Sylva explained that one of the challenges is increasing healthcare costs. For BCSC, costs are estimated to be up about 20 percent over last year. Sylva said that some of that has to do with young teachers starting families. But the increase has drawn down the cash reserves in the health care fund.

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Sylva said the total spending in all budgets for BCSC next year is estimated at $112.6 million, up from this year’s $111.3 million.