School Board adopts $383.3 million budget

• By MARSHA SILLS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jun 18, 2009 - Page: 1BA

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LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish School Board adopted a $383.3 million budget Wednesday that reflects an anticipated 7 percent reduction in sales tax revenue and more cuts may come pending the state’s own budget process.

Despite the reduction, the budget reflects a $12.7 million increase compared to last fiscal year thanks to federal stimulus funding and other grant sources, said Billy Guidry, the district’s chief financial officer.

But many state-funded programs, such as LEAP summer remediation, may be reduced or eliminated pending state decisions, Guidry said.

“We will work toward finding additional funding resources,” he said.

Departments throughout the district were asked to reduce their budgets by at least 5 percent.

Board President Carl LaCombe credited the budget staff for its “conservative” approach and taking “into account factors that we may face in the coming year.”

The $383.3 million budget breaks down into the following major funds:

• $227 million in general fund.
• $54.1 million in special revenue funds.
• $10 million for capital improvement fund.
• $11.9 million for self-funded construction.
• $10.1 million in debt service funds.
• $2 million in sales tax fund (net).
• $12.8 million in school food services fund.
• $33.3 million in group insurance fund.
• $21.5 million in 2002 half-cent sales tax fund.

The $227 million in the general fund includes the following new initiatives: $900,000 for a comprehensive master plan for its facilities; $885,000 for a comprehensive career and technical high school; and $529,241 to phase in a zoned maintenance management plan.

The budget includes reserved funds in the amount of $39.3 million, with $10.9 million in designated funds and $28.4 million in undesignated funds.