The Carson City School District’s tentative budget follows as expected with a projected reduction in $3.3 million in its general fund revenue for the 2022-23 fiscal year, about a 4.7% decline from the current year, fiscal services director Andrew Feuling stated during Tuesday night’s board meeting.
The district’s estimated average daily enrollment of 7,286.5, multiplied by a per-pupil amount of $7,753, generates an adjusted base amount of $59,491,507 for the district’s general funds. This combines with $10,420,204 from other Pupil Centered Funding Plan funds and $810,000 in local or federal money for a total of $67,721,811, totaling $3.3 million less than Carson City’s FY22 total revenue.
With changes in enrollment, four full-time teaching positions were not filled due to retirement. There is a 9% increase in health insurance for staff, and the Public Employee Retirement System remains stable at 29.75%, Feuling said.
Carson City also will extend its learning loss positions into 2022-23 and keep its bonuses for staff members, but it currently experiences many job vacancies it still struggles to fill, and come May, it will begin seeing more employees submit retirements or resignations for those who move on to other districts.
Most other funds are awaiting updates or changes as the district prepares to submit its budget to the Nevada Department of Taxation by its Friday deadline. There were some details of note, with the capital projects and bond projects fund having a greater impact on the district on the immediate future.
The 1600 Snyder Ave. property, the former Capital Christian Church, now having been leased to a church fund, frees up approximately $7 million in the district’s expenditure authority, or its “DW Major Maintenance” item. The potential recommendations for projects will be reviewed by the Facilities Master Planning Committee, which will be reconvened to determine priority levels, needs and costs, Feuling said. Director of operations services Mark Korinek and capital and special projects manager Mark Johnson will be responsible for revising a list of demonstrating school or facility needs. Projects then will be brought back for board action.
Trustee Mike Walker recalled last summer when the price of lumber had possible impacts on Eagle Valley Middle School’s expansion project. Walker asked Feuling if any portion of the $7 million in the newly available capital projects fund now would be needed for Eagle Valley, but Feuling said the site’s construction manager at risk, CORE Construction, built in expected increases and covered any uncertainties.
“The bigger issue was getting the supplies in a timely manner,” Feuling said. “We do have the potential to bond this year in the event the Facilities Master Planning Committee decides there’s a need beyond the $7 million beyond the uncertainty and the rates. A 30-year mortgage is now beyond 5%. Those rates have filtered and they’re historically low.”
The district’s adult and prison education funds remain as expected with projects, Feuling said. Special education for now does not have an expected figure for next year.
Nutrition services will be covered thanks to Gov. Steve Sisolak’s commitment to provide every public school student with free lunch with $160 million in funding for lunches and childcare centers announced in February. Details have not been released from the Department of Agriculture or Sisolak’s office.
Planning continues, Feuling said, with its anticipation now for about $1 million left in its Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II fund for 2022-23 and approximately $8 million for ESSER III for FY23 and FY24, he said. The federal funding assisting schools in their recovery from the pandemic’s impacts will help Carson City to extend its Learning Loss applications from FY22 and add retention bonuses of $500 for current staff members.
In non-staffing costs, the ESSER grant will assist with the district’s next set of purchases of Chromebooks for students at a price of about $600,000, though the general fund will see an overall reduction of about $1 million, Feuling said. ESSER provides specific guidance on allowable costs similar to Race to the Top, he said.
Once the tentative budget has been submitted to the Department of Taxation for review Friday, the board will hold a public meeting and budget hearing on May 24 for approval. The original final budget is due to the state on June 8.
