Administrators, however, warned this cash infusion will not enable the district to rehire the 30 laid-off employees, restore busing and other eliminated services.
“It’s one-time money,” said superintendent David Baker. “You don’t spend one-time money on recurring costs.”
The school board learned of the “new revenues” during their July 21 meeting where they voted to wait until May 2010 to seek another tax levy. Voters have already rejected four consecutive levies seeking more operating money.
The district expects to receive:
• A $440,000 refund of tax-collection fees from county auditors;
• $450,000 in federal stimulus funds over the next two years; and,
• About $$480,000 from Warren County Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities for preschool funding.
MR/DD has pledged to pay school districts in Warren County $5,000 per student in each of the next three years.
During the next two years, the district expects also to receive $950,000 in federal stimulus funds earmarked for use on children with special needs.
Officials said the new money will relieve pressure on the district to make cuts beyond the $3 million made following the failed levies.
Baker warned the district could be forced to reopen Jonathan Wright Elementary School in 2011 — which was recently closed to cut more than $400,000 from the budget — unless the state grants the district a waiver for a mandate to provide all-day kindergarten in the new state budget.
The district expects also for state funding cuts of 1 percent this year and 2 percent next year, said district treasurer Tim Dettwiller.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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