EBR board OKs budget, plans surplus draw

• By AMY WOLD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jun 23, 2009 - Page: 2B

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The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, at a special meeting Monday, approved a $424 million budget for the upcoming 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Although expenditures will be lower than those made this fiscal year, the upcoming expenses are still $35 million more than the district expects to receive in revenue for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The money to make up the difference will come primarily from the school system’s $59 million surplus, bringing that fund down to about $31 million.

If expenditures in future budgets remain at the same level — and revenue stays the same or continues to decline — that surplus fund might soon disappear.

Budget projections for the next two years show a continued reliance on the surplus fund, according to information provided to the School Board at a June 16 workshop.

The projections show the surplus fund could be down to $500,000 in 2010-2011, leaving the school system facing a deficit of $35 million for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

On Monday night, the School Board made very few changes to the 2009-2010 budget before adopting it.

The biggest change was moving an $800,000 Employee Attendance Software Package to the “for future consideration” section of the budget.

Board member Bill Black said he didn’t agree with approving that purchase until the board receives more information about it.

Superintendent Charlotte Placide agreed the board should have more information about the program before including it in the budget.

“I think it has not been presented in enough detail for the board to make a decision,” she said. “I would ask you to continue to look at this.”

She said that with more than 6,000 employees in the school system, the program could save the school system money in the long run, but the board can make that decision at a later date.

Another change was an increase in stipends — to a total of $5,000 a year each — for teachers, librarians, guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers who gain National Board Certification.