School board passed deficit budget

The La Conner School Board passed a deficit operating budget for the district’s coming 2019-2020 year. After months of study and public hearings July 15 and 22, Directors passed the budget unanimously, without comment, at their July 22 meeting.

Funding next year will be $300,000 above this year, at $12.9 million, but expenses will be about $13.1 million, for a $179,000 deficit. Expenditures are $200,000 below 2018-2019. This is the third year running the budget has been in the red. The 2018-2019 deficit was $686,000.

District budget figures show using about $225,000 from a reserve fund of $1.2 million.

State funding is up $927,000, but the February property levy passage decreased local funds by $128,446. Local non-tax funds are up $147,000. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s contribution is in this category.

The food service program expenditures are slated to increase by $18,000. Revenue is projected to increase by an amount unstated at the July 15 budget hearing.

Student enrollment is projected at 585, a decrease of three. Documents show 51 certified, or teaching, staff, 4.5 fewer, and classified, or support staff, reduced by one position. Salaries and wages have increased, with teachers getting an overall raise of over 26% last August.

Administrative staff raises have yet to be approved. A 3.8% increase has been on the Board’s agenda since June but tabled as part of the dispute the two school unions are having over Superintendent Whitney Meissner’s tenure. Each passed overwhelming no confidence votes in June and have since called for her dismissal.

School District Board Directors are Janie Beasley, chair, Lynette Cram, Susan Deyo, Brad Smith and Kate Szurek.