School funding draws skepticism (5/1/03)

Indiana’s lawmakers have passed a projected increase in funding for all of Indiana’s schools over the next two years, but area school administrators have greeted the announcement with skepticism.

On Sunday morning, the Indiana General Assembly approved a $22.7 billion, two-year state budget which includes $495 million in increased funding to school districts. According to State Rep. Ron Liggett (D-Redkey), funding for Jay Schools will include increases of 4.1 percent in 2004 and 2.9 percent in 2005. Estimated increases for South Adams Schools were not available.

“We’re skeptical,” Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome said Wednesday. “It still depends on the state economy to rebound and get that money to the schools. We’ve been burned that last couple years when we think we’re going to get the money put down on paper and then they come back and say they can’t. We’re just trying to be cautious.”

The state is currently facing a $800 million deficit.

“It is a surprise,” South Adams Supt. Connie Bailey said Tuesday. “Because they had to get (the money) from somewhere, and I don’t know where that is. We always have the concern that they’d like to pay us what they talked about, but they have to collect that money first.”

Both DeRome and Bailey are also worried about decreases in other funds. In the budget passed by the state, there is a decrease in transportation funding and a reduced number of grants. In Jay County, an annual $52,000 grant designated for the general fund was eliminated, DeRome said.

“When you look at the increase (in school funding) you also have to look at the decrease in transportation and flat grants. And we also don’t know yet how the declining enrollment will fit into that picture,” Bailey said.

“Some things have been restored, but others have been cut,” DeRome said. “We’re just really going to have to work through a lot of detail and see what we need to do. The one thing that sticks out for me is if we lose some transportation funding, that could be as much as $50,000.”

Jay Schools has been dealing with a general fund budget deficit for several years now, and South Adams Schools is preparing for a similar problem. South Adams has a declining enrollment, which could complicate its budget woes.

“We’re going to be borrowing money here shortly to keep going,” Bailey said. “We have not borrowed yet this year. We will borrow soon, but it just depends on how much. There is enough cash balance to get through this year.”

Jay Schools Supt. Barbara Downing was encouraged by the budget passed by state legislators, but said administrators will have to wait to determine the local impact.

“People are going to say that everything’s been restored, but that’s not very clear,” Downing said. “But I am encouraged. It’s just too early to see actually how many dollars and cents will be forthcoming to the Jay School Corporation.”[[In-content Ad]]