| Anoka group revives ‘Thriller’ for Red Bull Flugtag crowd |
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The “Back for the First Time” team hauled their flying coffin in a full sized semi truck to reach Harriet Island for the Red Bull event. Submitted photo
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One of the more creative endeavors to hit Minnesota since the milk
carton boat race began some 39 years ago entertained, launched, flew
and ultimately floated as Red Bull brought its Flugtag event to Harriet
Island July 24.
| Gloomy District 11 budget forecast |
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| Wednesday, 05 March 2008 | ||
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Staff writer Forecasting the financial health of District 11 and presenting a preliminary budget during the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting Monday night, best- and worst-case scenarios were described. First, Buck tallied the major numbers: Projecting ahead to July 1, 2008, the school district will have a fund balance of $25,350,934. Projected revised fiscal year 2009 revenues total $407,652,232 and adopted expenditures for that period total $414,593,782. Looking ahead to June 30, 2009, Buck identified the projected fund balance at $18,409,384 with the operating budget showing a shortfall of $6,941,550. State economic budget projections have indicated that the state will have a $380 million deficit for the current biennium, a figure that will be adjusted during the legislative session, Buck said. When Anoka-Hennepin outlined its long-term financial forecast, it included an increase in the district’s state aid of some $4 million for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. “That revenue increase probably will not happen,” Buck said. But he assured board members that the additional revenue was not included in the preliminary budget he presented Monday night. Buck also warned board members that “if the Legislature and the governor choose a path of no tax increases, the district’s long-term projection will have to be restated and significant future budget reductions will be inevitable.” Add to that gloomy forecast the declining enrollment expected in District 11 during the next few years, and Buck said, “As we lose students, we lose referendum value. We are looking to trim our transportation budget in response to the drop in enrollment.” With 500-600 fewer students to take to and from school, fewer buses will be needed, he said. The district’s enrollment is projected to decline some 685 students for the 2008-2009 school year, but no changes were made to staffing ratios, Buck said. With that assumption, the district loses approximately $4.2 million in revenue and will reduce its budget by $2.2 million. “This leaves the district with a structural deficit of approximately $2 million for fiscal year 2009,” Buck said. As for projecting the fiscal years 2010 and 2011 budgets, Buck described best-case and worst-case scenarios. Best case The projected fiscal year 2009 budget deficit is eliminated and the budget is balanced; the loss of revenue from the decline in student enrollment is completely offset by a corresponding budget reduction of approximately $4.5 million each year; the state Legislature increases the district’s state revenue by 3.8 percent each year; and the fiscal year 1999 levy referendum is renewed, including an adjustment for inflation from 1999 through 2009. Worst case The fiscal year 2009 budget deficit is not eliminated; the lost revenue from the decline in student enrollment is offset by the staffing ratio only leaving a structural deficit of approximately $2 million each year; the state economy does not improve and the state does not increase school district funding; and the fiscal year 1999 levy referendum is not renewed, including an adjustment for inflation from 1999 through 2009. “We could look out two years and see that the Legislature is not going to fund education. That’s probably what we’re going to see,” said School Board Vice Chairman Tom Heidemann. The district saw only a .7 percent increase in state school district funding this year, he said. “Our fund balance,” Buck said, “is about the same as schools across the state. There’s going to be a lot of cuts to get through the next biennium. We’re playing closer to the line with our fund balance. That, and the declining enrollment, is a double-whammy for the district.” Superintendent Dr. Roger Giroux acknowledged the school district’s tough financial situation. “Federal funding, plus state funding, plus local property tax – that’s your money for education,” Giroux said. “We’re going to have to make some extraordinary decisions.” New math District 11’s newly-approved K-5 elementary mathematics curriculum, Everyday Math, comes with a price tag, expenses necessary to purchase new textbooks and to provide teacher training. As part of the consent agenda items approved by the school board, the cost of teacher and student instruction materials passed as well. After negotiating with Everyday Math representatives, District 11’s Laurie Resch, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, reported a reduced cost for those instruction materials. The original numbers had Anoka-Hennepin’s cost at $1,498,203.56. Numbers presented and approved in the consent agenda were $1,350,447.56. “We’re always happy to see the numbers go down,” Resch said. Sue Austreng is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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