ROCK SPRINGS — Facing more budget challenges heading into the new school year, the Sweetwater County School District Board of Trustees approved its 2021-2022 fiscal year budget of just under $175.7 million last week.
Notable line items in the budget include roughly $83.2 million in the general fund, $26.4 million for capital projects and $22.7 million in the insurance fund.
Duncan said the budget shows “a little bit of a hit” to the base salary structure with about $6.1 million in cash reserves and a cash carry-over of $5.53 million from FY 2020-2021. The District also has a zero balance in debt services heading into the next fiscal year.
“As you know we’ve had a pretty tough year this year and I don’t think we’re done quite yet. We still have many tough decisions to make with pending budget cuts and the revenue estimates.”
SCSD No. 1 Chief Financial Officer Scot Duncan
The capital projects fund is used to cover the five-year spending plans for technology, transportation, facilities, grounds, custodial and nutrition services. Appropriations have also been set aside in this fund for the satellite high school, Duncan said.
“This fund is important because it helps us carry out the five-year equipment replacement plans,” he added. “It also helps on the general fund side because schools don’t have to budget for equipment and they can use that available funding for the goals they want to accomplish in their schools.”
The average daily membership (ADM) for the district is project to be down about 150 students from last year. As a result, the overall per student funding will also decrease by about $2.1 million.
The entire July 21 school board meeting can be viewed here.
