Board members were also presented with information that shows the district will have a total budget of $80.3 million after the addition of federal stimulus funds, state and federal grants, and other funds, including 2007 bond expenditures.
The $80.3 million is an increase from 2008-09 of $2.6 million.
“This was a real difficult budget,” said Temple ISD Superintendent Dr. Robin Battershell. “There was a lot of hard work and sacrifice that went into making it.”
The tax rate for the district will be going down for the year from $1.24 per $100 valuation to $1.21. The effective tax rate will also be $1.21, according to TISD Assistant Superintendent Kent Boyd.
Boyd said the reason for the decreased tax rate is that the district’s interest and sinking fund balance had decreased, meaning it is paying less debt back - the maintenance and operation rate for the district will remain the same at $1.04 from 2008-09, while the interest and sinking fund rate will decrease from $0.19 to $0.17 per $100 valuation.
In all, TISD will receive $20.5 million in local funding, $29.9 in state funding, and $717,000 in local funding for general operating expenses.
Of the $60.2 million, $33.3 million will go toward instruction and teaching, up $100,000 from 2008-09. Teachers will receive raises under the district’s pay scale of $800. First year teachers at TISD will make $38,050, up from $37,250, and above the state minimum of $28,120.
Board members also approved an increase in transportation operations personnel costs, which will be used to increase bus driver salaries. The board approved a personnel budget of $1.03 million for transportation employees, up from $875,000 during 2008-09.
“Belton is paying its bus drivers more, and working them less hours,” said Boyd, during the board meeting. “We want to be competitive, and I think (raises) will help.”
Battershell said that the district does not plan on laying off employees for the upcoming year, and will reduce positions through attrition, or retirement and vacancies. She said reductions would also be made for maintenance and contingency budgets.
The district plans on receiving $1.4 million in federal stimulus funds, which it plans on using for various programs, including preschool.
It also plans on receiving $4.2 million in food service funds, an increase of $180,000 from 2008-09.
Battershell also addressed issues of hiring teachers for Meridith-Dunbar Elementary School, saying that the district had made all of its hires for the school, and that she was pleased.
Because of failing Texas Education Agency (TEA) acceptability ratings, the district has decided to move fourth- and fifth-grade students at the schools to other district schools, and has hired more experienced teachers to teach at the elementary school, paying them a $2,000 stipend.
“I’m very satisfied with the work we’ve done hiring at (Meridith-Dunbar),” said Dr. Battershell. “We have some very experienced teachers who will be coming in.”
