School board approves 2022-23 budget

BROOKINGS – The Brookings School Board approved a budget totaling $95.1 million for the 2022-23 school year at its Monday evening meeting.
There were a few adjustments in the fund percentage of the total budget from the July budget hearing. In the budget presentation given by Director of Business Services Brian Lueders, the budget saw an increase from $94.8 million in July to $95.1 million. The increase was due to changes in the general fund, which had an increase due to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding.
The general fund proposed, making up 29% of the total budget, is more than $27.4 million. The estimated use of fund balance comes out to $408,415. The net budget after one-time federal money, which is more than $1.2 million of ESSER funding, is taken out equals almost $26 million. ESSER II funding remaining at the end of the year amounts to $68,385, which Leuders is confident will be expended.
Items generating income included in the general fund include a sports marketing plan that brings in $100,000, a City of Brookings subsidy of $192,500, Perkins career and technical education funds of $35,000, Title II class size reduction allowing two federally funded elementary teacher positions, $10,000 in funding for a safety coordinator, two school resource officers who generate $69,165 in salary from the city, and student activities.

The capital outlay budget is more than $6.4 million and includes a $268,500 transfer out of the general fund for ESSER II reimbursement for laptops at BHS, a $150,000 state work force grant, $575,000 for repairs to district buildings, and about $1 million to be used for the Hillcrest and Medary construction projects.
The Medary and Hillcrest Elementary construction and renovations are the only capital projects for 2023 fiscal year, amounting to $43.3 million, including $300,000 of interest income, $33 million from bond sales, and $10 million from capital outlay certificates and cash.
The special education budget for fiscal year sits at $7.4 million, including wages, benefits and student placements. It does not use ESSER funding.
Other fund revenues and expenses for the fiscal year include the enterprise budget of $153,725, the self-insurance fund of $6.8 million including premium increases, and the food service budget of $2 million, including an increase in meal prices, staff, benefits, and food costs and transitioning from federal reimbursement for all meals to reimbursement for free and reduced meals.

Contact Alison Simon at asimon@brookingsregister.com.