Clinton County Board of Education now has a fiscal year “working budget” in place for 2011-12, following approval of the budget at a special meeting last Friday afternoon, September 23.

The working budget is estimated at approximately $10.7 million, which include $1.25 million set aside in the building fund which may be used to construct a new Central Office facility sometime in the future.

The budget has to be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education by September 30.

The working budget is the actual budget in which the district operates under for the most part throughout the fiscal year and is the only one that has to be submitted to the state. Two prior budgets include a draft budget that needs only be presented to the board in January and a tentative budget which is approved by the board in May of each year.

Superintendent Mickey McFall noted that the exact amount of SEEK funding from the state, which is the biggest percentage of revenue for the budget still isn’t exact, but is projected at $7,263,000. He compared that to $7.5 million in funds just three years ago, in 2009. The over $200,000 in reduction in SEEK funds is somewhat worrisome to most school districts and one that the superintendent said was a recurring thing, meaning the reduction in funding over the years.

Finance Officer Jackie York reviewed the budget with the board members–all of which were present for the brief meeting.

York noted that since the tentative budget in May, the actual working budget had to be adjusted for salaries, noting that last year about 40 salaries were helped with the federal governments stimulus funds but that is not the case this fiscal year.

He also added that there were several one time projects that cost the district in revenue but that wouldn’t be the case this year. Some examples were the purchase of vehicles, lighting for the tennis courts and others.

The district is required to maintain a minimum of two percent of the overall budget in contingency, and York noted the working budget this year has three percent in contingency funds.

The finance officer noted that the budget was “getting tighter every year,” but added this year, we are in relatively good shape.

Should economic conditions worsen and state and federal funding continues to fall short, Supt. McFall said there were some options, including adjusting staffing, taking some funds from the $1.25 million set aside for building projects or generating more revenue somehow, the latter he hopes doesn’t have to become an option anytime soon.

The motion to approve the 2011-12 working budget was made by board member Junior Cecil, seconded by Goldie Stonecipher and passed by unanimous vote.

The budget was the only item of business on the agenda for last week’s call meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Clinton County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, October 10 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office and is open to the general public.