H-BC finds extra $300,000 in school district budget

The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board received good news Feb. 25 that their anticipated budget deficit won’t be as large as first projected.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus told board members Tuesday night that a combination of additional state revenue and fewer than expected expenses since July 1 have decreased the projected $476,827 deficit to $26,360 for the 2019-20 school year.
“A large portion of the back payment ($300,000) has to do with the under-reporting of enrollment numbers, which the district does to budget conservatively,” Holthaus said after the meeting.
“In this case, quite conservatively.”
Under the revised budget, H-BC expects revenue of $4.951 million with $4.977 in expenses.
“It is a feeling of relief to know that those dollars came in at a time when the district was projecting to spend from a deficit position,” Holthaus said.
The projected deficit was the result of a $360,000 roof project at the elementary school combined with scheduled salary increases and added part-time position to the district.
 
In other business, board members:
•agreed to spend $3,950 with Sports Graphics of Clarion, Iowa, for window graphics to cover a portion of the glass entrance at the high school entrance. The graphics allow people to see out the windows but limit visibility looking into the building.
•accepted the resignation of Chris Harnack as building, grounds and transportation director effective March 31.
•approved spring coaching assignments of golf coach Dan Ellingson, volunteer assistant golf coach Caleb Ellingson, track head coach Rex Metzger, assistant track coach Dalton Bass, and junior high coach Darin DeBoer.
•moved the regular March 9 meeting to March 11 at 7 p.m.