H-BC school budget deficit projections not as large as anticipated

Coronavirus pandemic aid from federal, state and local sources helped Hills-Beaver Creek School District erase a portion of its deficit from seven months ago.
School Board members accepted a preliminary 2020-21 budget in June 2020 that projected a general fund deficit of $105,922.
At the Feb. 8 School Board meeting, Superintendent Todd Holthaus said he and business manager Amanda Rozeboom went through each line item and revised the 2020-21 general budget to deficit of $86,324.
“This is a really good snapshot of the district,” Holthaus said.
H-BC is projected to spend $4.919 million during the current school year.
Overspending this school year was due to the purchase of a new school bus and an upgraded phone system for the district.
Holthaus anticipated increased expenditures due to added pandemic mandates involving more cleaning, personal protection equipment and distancing requirements within the bus routes.
H-BC received $213,000 in aid to offset the added costs, which included $26,000 in coronavirus aid from Rock County and the cities of Hills and Beaver Creek.
The district will also receive an additional $32,000 for a higher-than-projected enrollment.
Positive balances are also projected for the food service and community education funds under the approved revised budget.
Earlier H-BC anticipated a deficit of $14,475 in food service during the school year.
However, meals are currently free through a federal coronavirus program, and the district will receive $65,185 more than the earlier projections for revenues of $212,389 for this school year.
Holthaus said the federal food program is expected to continue through the end of the current school year.
In a three-year plan to spend down the food service budget to breakeven levels, H-BC will invest in upgraded food service equipment to lower the food service balance.
A positive balance was also projected for community education, although the cancelations of youth and adult enrichment classes to lessen the spread of COVID-19 reduced revenues.
Revenues for this fiscal year are $119,765, down from projections of $125,680.
The reduction also comes from reduced preschool tuition to allow more preparation time for its teachers.
Instead of a positive $44,709, Community Education is projected to end the 2020-21 school year with a positive balance of $30,875.