Despite a projected $265 per pupil funding increase next year, the 2015-16 budget for Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 schools again is forecast to be underfunded at the state level.
As determined by School Finance Bill SB15-267, total state funding for next year’s projected budget is set at more than $18.9 million, said Montezuma-Cortez schools finance director Wendy Everett. At full funding, the district should receive an additional $2.6 million, which was cut by state legislators because of the negative factor, she said.
“Full funding for Montezuma Cortez is $21,578,895,” Everett said.
The proposed budget projects more than $18.2 million in general-fund expenditures next year, an increase of 6.3 percent, or $1,078,926, over the current fiscal year. Forecast at more than $48 million, appropriations for 2015-16 include more than $12.3 million for capital projects, $3.4 million for risk-related activities and more than $1.4 million for bond-redemption funding. District officials are scheduled to adopt the proposed budget June 30.
Everett said the budget was subject to change.
“The important numbers are the actual audited as this paints the picture of actual expenditures,” Everett said. “A budget is an estimation.”
According to budget forecasts, property-tax collections are projected to increase for the Re-1 district, rising from $11.2 million to $11.9 million, or by 5.7 percent, over last year. Everett deferred to the Montezuma County Tax Assessor’s Office for an explanation.
Omitting employee wages and benefits, each school across the district is forecast to see slight increases in budgetary spending over the last year. Everett attributed the upward ticks to new state transparency accounting guidelines. She said prior expenses for custodians, health services along with curriculum and technology support, for example, all had been reallocated to respective school sites.
“The services at each school will remain the same,” Everett said.
Despite proactive steps by students and staff to reduce the district’s energy cost by nearly a quarter in recent years, the budget calls for an almost 11 percent increase in utility costs next year.
A recent court ruling against energy company Kinder Morgan in a county tax dispute effectively keeps the district from returning $1 million to county coffers, but Everett said the decision wouldn’t impact next year’s budget.
