BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — The property tax rate for Bradford County School District will drop next year based on the tentative rate adopted during the Aug. 1 public hearing.
The required local effort dictated by the state was 3.2750 mills, down from 3.6650 mills this year. But the rate for discretionary operating and capital outlay funds is not dropping, so the total rate of 5.5240 is 0.44% higher than the rollback rate.
With a total taxable value of more than $1.3 billion on properties, local revenue from property taxes will be just over $7 million for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year. Vocational fees, preschool fees, rent and other miscellaneous revenue bring that to nearly $7.94 million.
In addition, the district will receive more than $19.5 million in state funding and $386,205 in general federal funding, bringing the amount of new revenue to $26.36 million. A fund balance of more than $4 million brings the total source of general funds to $30.39 million.
New appropriations of those general funds total more than $27 million. From salaries to energy costs, expenses are up in nearly every category. The estimated ending fund balance is nearly $3.25 million, placing the district’s financial condition ratio at 4% — high enough to keep the Bradford out of trouble with the state.
The public capital outlay fund includes the money received for school construction. The district is carrying forward more than $34 million and expects to add around $16 million. Reserving nearly $635,000 in the fund balance, the total capital outlay fund is $50.95 million. The local capital improvement fund stands at $3.32 million, with $1.9 million in new revenue. Expenditures are set at $1.94. That and a $400,000 transfer to the general fund will take the fund balance from $1.4 million to $981,067.
School food service will receive and spend $1.96 million in federal funds, leaving its $887,654 fund balance untouched, according to the tentative budget.
Additional federal funding for Title I and other programs is budgeted at $3.46 million in revenue and expenditures.
The district also has two pots of unspent pandemic (ESSER II) funds. One — $1.54 million — is allocated to salaries and benefits and materials and supplies. The second — $7.42 million — is allocated to salaries and benefits, materials and supplies, purchased services, energy services, capital outlay, and other expenses.
With the assistance of this additional funding, plus the construction funds, total expenditures are nearly $90.16 million. The total budget with transfers and fund balances is nearly $100.43 million.
The school board’s final budget hearing is Sept. 12 at 5:01 p.m.
Savings on food service
Food Services Director Blake Dicks said the district will be taking over breakfasts and lunches at the Rainbow Center. According to Superintendent Will Hartley, this will provide a savings to the district compared to contracting with an outside vendor.
School construction on track
Ausley Construction’s Todd Duffy provided an update on new school construction, saying it is now possible to see the footprint of the entire campus. The cafeteria and music building is furthest along and will be completed first. It should be roof ready by the end of August. Second is the administration building, which should see roof work begin in early September.
Duffy said there are around 150 or 160 workers onsite on any given day, including masons, electricians and plumbers. That will increase as work progresses.
“I’m proud to say we’re still on time and on budget, and we look forward to having this thing turned over early,” Duffy said.
