Schools look at 05-06 budget

The Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education is discussing the budget for the 2005-06 school year.
During a Board of Education workshop on June 6, board members surrounded the conference table at the administration building and debated the upcoming year’s priorities.
Utilizing the 2004-05 school budget of $69,665,210, officials compared and contrasted the differences between that year and the upcoming projected budget.
‘We are probably going to come in a lot lower than last year’s budget,? said Anita Banach, Director of Communications and Marketing for Clarkston Community Schools.
According to Banach, the formal budget should be about $2 million lower than the 2004-05 budget. For the last three years, the per pupil funding was $6,747. According to Banach, the business department of Clarkston Community Schools is projecting the same amount for 2005-06.
Other topics the board gave administrators guidance on included:
? 2005-06 programs ? board members discussed
maintaining current programs within the school district.
? Staffing levels ? because of the reconfiguring project, approximately 20 new employees to be hired.
? Student enrollment projections.
? 22 percent increase on health care and retirement scosts.
? Operational costs for the new properties.
Administrators continue to prepare a proposed budget for a formal hearing on June 27. The public hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the Clarkston High School LGI room, and will last 30 minutes.
During the public hearing, local community members have the opportunity to listen to a detailed presentation of the 2005-06 budget and ask questions.
For more information, call the Clarkston Community Schools Business Department at 248-623-5400.