Lewis County Schools Facing Budget Shortfall

The Lewis County School District may be facing budget cuts for the 2016-2017 school year.

According to Lewis County Director of Finance Joe Kennedy, the total amount in the draft budget for the 2016-2017 school year is $21,674,339.23. That does not include special revenue (grants) or the revenue that will come from the nickel tax.

“A new fund will have to be set up for the recallable nickel tax,” he said. “The fund for the nickel tax was not included in the draft budget, but will likely be included in the tentative budget in May or working budget in September.”

The 2015-2016 budget totaled $26,211,083.21.

The 2016-2017 school year budget revenues include $17,799,041 for the general fund, $774,505 for the building fund, $1.2 million for the debt service fund, $1.6 million for the food service fund, and $206,000 for the capital outlay fund with expenditures matching.

Kennedy did not say what expenses would most likely be cut from the budget.

Kennedy cited a decline in enrollment as a reason for the budget shortfall.

“The district will be looking to cut expenses in the 2016-2017 school year due to decreased enrollment,” he said. “Enrollment has been declining over the last few years.”

The daily attendance for the 2014-2015 school year was 2,046. In the 2013-2014 school year it was 2,101 and in the 2012-2013 school year attendance was 2,127.

The declining enrollment is not new to the district. In August, Director of Pupil Personnel Jamie Weddington reported an almost 50 student loss.

“We’re down several students this year,” he told board members in August. “About a 40-50 student loss. Kindergarten numbers are significantly less than in previous years. We are looking for students.”

Weddington did not say what might be the cause for the decrease in enrollment.

He did say, however, that the largest decline was at Lewis County Middle School, where enrollment dropped by 38 students.

“This decline is directly related to a small seventh grade class of 143 students,” Weddington said.

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