by Mike Knaak
news@thenewsleaders.com
A revised 2021-22 budget and a preliminary budget for 2022-23 were approved by the Sartell-St. Stephen school board at its June 20 meeting.
“We’re in a good spot financially,” Superintendent Jeff Ridlehoover said.
The district plans to spend about $63 million next year and estimates an enrollment of 4,119 students, an increase of 16 from the number budgeted for this year.
Director of Business Services Joe Prom reported to the board that the district’s bottom line has been boosted by higher-than-planned-for state funding and by federal money to help with Covid-19 related expenses. The 2021-22 and 2022-23 budgets include $1,148,271 and $807,732, respectively, of American Rescue Plan funding used for Coivd-19 response, summer school programming, mental health needs and strategies to offset learning loss as the result of the pandemic
When the district approved the 2021-22 budget, a 1 percent state aid increase was figured in but when the Legislature completed its work, the funding increase was 2.4 percent. The Legislature approved a 2-percent increase for the coming year.
Prom said that no changes in the number of sections at each grade level are planned and class sizes will meet district guidelines. The budget includes additional special education staff and an additional high school counselor.
The overall impact of funding and expenses means the surplus in the general fund balance for 2021-22 is projected at $347,845 and a $969,688 increase to the unassigned fund balance.
The fund balance on June 30, 2021, was $14,932,694 and is projected at $15,280,539 on June 30, 2022. The unassigned fund balance is anticipated at $7,382,098 as of June 30, 2022, which is 17.13 percent.
For 2022-23, the overall budget surplus is projected at $44,262, with a $756,249 surplus in the unassigned fund balance. The projected unassigned fund balance is $8,138,347, or 18.04 percent. District policy calls for at least a 10 percent unassigned fund balance.
The board plans a work session for 3:30 p.m., Monday June 27, followed by a closed session for Ridlehoover’s evaluation. The meeting is at the District Service Center.
The next board meeting is 5 p.m., Monday, July 18, at the District Service Center.
