By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Feeling the pinch of declining enrollment and sluggish property values, Washington-Caldwell officials this week sounded a somewhat urgent message about the school district’s short-term budget.
Several dozen residents filled the Washington School gymnasium during a special School Board meeting Sept. 29. Superintendent Mark Pienkos explained why he is asking that property taxes be increased for the current 2014-15 school year.
While declining enrollment never has a positive impact, it especially deals a wallop to a smaller school district, Pienkos said.
According to the most recent figures, Washington-Caldwell is hosting 178 students from 4-year-old kindergarten through grade 8. By contrast, the district had 214 children enrolled in the 2008-09 school year.
In the past five years, the district has been fiscally prudent and trimmed expenses, particularly with staffing. Pienkos said
Washington-Caldwell has one less teacher as a result of the declining enrollment. Additionally, two aide positions have gone from full- to part-time, and a full-time main office secretary position was reduced to two part-time positions.
In both scenarios, the district is no longer offering health insurance benefits.
Pienkos shared one positive with the audience: Washington-Caldwell is not burdened with anyt debt at the moment, meaning all expenses go directly toward staffing, building maintenance and curriculum.
By his estimation, Pienkos said Washington-Caldwell has about $1.165 million set aside in reserve dollars in the fund balance.
“But, folks, we can’t exhaust the fund balance,” Pienkos said, while detailing the reasons for keeping reserves.
Pienkos laid out six possible options to address the declining income and increasing expenses anticipated in the 2014-15 school year.
Each proposal suggests Washington-Caldwell will maintain current staffing levels and all existing programs. Each scenario proposes dipping into the fund balance.
On the high end, the district would tax to the maximum extent allowed by state law and remove $51,708 from the fund balance. Taxpayers of a property valued at $200,000 would pay an additional $246 in taxes.
On the low end, the district would remove $301,756 from the fund balance. Taxpayers of a property valued at $200,000 would pay $46 more in taxes to the district.
In his nine years on the School Board, member Todd Bluhm said he has witnessed Washington-Caldwell weather “its share of ups and downs” and acknowledged the challenges of the current situation.
“To me, the decision is a simple one,” Bluhm commented. “Does this community value this school or not? I think the board and the parents really do care. I hope we can find a way to make this work.”
The board heard from about a half-dozen residents at Monday’s meeting, and there was support expressed for increasing taxes — although the actual amount remains in question.
“I think we get a lot of bang for our buck at this place,” district resident Barbara Murray-Charging Crow said. “It’s a private school-feel in a public school setting.”
The School Board will further discuss the district’s budget at its next regular meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20.
The public will have an opportunity to formally weigh in on the proposed budget and levy at the district’s annual meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27.
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