The Effingham Unit #40 Board of Education approved a FY17 budget at their Regular Monday night meeting, following a special budget hearing. While the district is showing an overall deficit in the ballpark of $900,000, Superintendent Mark Doan says that the district is better off than last year.
According to Doan, many of difficulties with the district’s financial situation stem from the state not following though with General State Aid. He suggested that while the district has continued to make cuts, they still are not enough to make up for the nearly $3 million in lost revenue from the state. Despite the district’s deficit, Superintendent Doan expresses confidence in the district’s financial state moving forward.
The board also approved a resolution supporting the application for the new Effingham Enterprise Zone. If accepted by the state, the new enterprise zone would provide increment tax abatement for businesses moving into or expanding in the zone for up to seven years, resulting a loss of tax revenue for government bodies such as the school district. Doan suggested that in the long term, the enterprise zone iss a partnership to improve the area.
Doan also pointed out that some revenue lost due to the enterprise zone would be compensated for in general state aid.
A low bid of $216,458 was awarded to Mid-State Roofing, of Beecher City, for the repair of the EJHS roof, that includes the area over the gymnasium and the surrounding classrooms. An alternate bid of $55,542 was also awarded to the same company for roof repair over the EJHS auditorium.
Additionally the board approved several new policy changes along with an agreement with Chesnut Music, in Effingham, for instrument maintenance at the price of $10,483.