RSD budget for next year estimated at $204 million

Renton School District conducted a public hearing to review the budget for 2016-2017 last week. The board is set to vote on the budget's adoption June 22.

It’s time to officially add numbers to next year’s school district operating budget.

The Renton School District (RSD) on June 8 conducted a public hearing to review the budget for 2016-2017.

Interim Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operation Susan Smith Leland led the hearing, and provided a numerical breakdown of next year’s more than $200 million budget.

The information provided at this hearing was an extension to Leland’s May 25 presentation where she talked about building blocks for the General Fund budget, enrollment trends, district initiative and priorities and challenges for the next school year.

The district is authorized to six separate funds, each serving different purposes. The funds include General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Transportation Vehicle Fund, Debt Service Fund, Associated Student Body Fund (ASB) and Trust and Agency Funds.

Revenues were calculated with the assumption that the district will have 15,842 full-time equivalent students, 1,113 vocational students and 2,195 special education students. Though the total number of students is an increase over this school year, it is not as large an increase as initially projected.

Even though the 2016 legislation has limited the district’s full authority over the voter-approved levy which caused RSD to rollback around $3 million the district will still see an increased levy collection compared to previous years. This means the district will have access to nearly $46 million and there will be no cuts or drastic setbacks in the budget.

The General Fund, used to account for general operations of the district, also covers district initiatives and priorities. The West Hill Now initiative, support for IB, PSAT/SAT tests, enhancing staffing needs and development for multi-tiered system of supports all fall under the General Fund.

Leland estimates total expenditure will amount to nearly $204 million.

The Capital Projects Fund is used for acquisition or construction of major capital facilities including purchase of equipment and energy audits. The fund covers planning for Sartori Elementary School, completion of Vera Risdon Middle School, new elementary-class-sized portables, support for technology training and staff and energy projects. After projected revenues, expenditures and transfers out to General Fund, the fund balance is estimated to be around $20 million.

The Debt Service Fund is used for the accumulation of resources for the payment of long-term debt principal and interest. Taxes collected by the county are deposited in this fund. With the 2017 tax collection set at $27 million, the debt service fund balance is expected to be $5.746 million.

The Transportation Vehicle Fund is used to provide for the purchase and major repair of buses. Currently there are 115 buses that average eight years old. Eight buses have been fully depreciated. The Transportation Vehicle Fund is estimated to be $275,900.

The ASB Fund is a special revenue that accounts for student body fund revenue and expenditure. The fund covers athletics, clubs and private monies. Fund balance is estimated to be $1,127,247.

There were no public comments at the hearing. The board is set to vote for the budget’s adoption at the next school board meeting at 7 p.m., June 22, at Kohlwes Education Center, 300 S.W. Seventh St.