United Group Insurance

ACSD Budget hearing and action set for Monday

News

March 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s (ACSD) Board of Education will meet in a work session Monday evening at the High School, during which time a Public Hearing will be held on the Proposed 2014-2015 Certified Budget, which sets the rate patrons of the district will pay in terms of property taxes. The proposed budget calls for a 66-cent increase per thousand dollars assessed valuation, from $14.25 per thousand dollars valuation, to $14.91 per thousand.

Last year’s levy generated nearly $5.84-million. This year, the levy will generate a little more than $6.28-million for the district. Business Manager and Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast says the budget incorporates changes in how the districts spends for next year, and how much anticipated revenue is generated.

She says the district is generating money in its management fund to pay for early retirements, property casualty insurance premium. The Board she says has a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy [PPEL] which is up for renewal every 10-years, and a voted PPEL, and revenue from the General Fund. There is no Debt Service fund, because there are no current bond issues, and the Middle School renovation/reconstruction project is paid through the One-cent Local Option Sales Tax [LOST].

During the Board’s meeting on March 10th, Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said the districts needs to try and cut more than $803,800 from the budget over the next couple of years. One of the ways the district hopes to accomplish that is through it’s early retirement proposal. Elsewhere, cost reductions could be made across all departments, the cutting of two para-educator positions from the Level 3 Behavior Program, and other, similar savings.

Monday’s work session and public hearing begins at 7:30-p.m. in the Atlantic High School Media Center. The hearing will be followed by action on approving personnel recommendations, and the 2014-2015 proposed certified budget, along with discussion with regard to Capital Projects and the 1-to1 Computer proposal.