April 3, 2017

School District News

From Superintendent

Robert Vian

District News

Budget Amendment

When I started to prepare the budget for the 2017-18 school year I made what I thought was a very embarrassing and disturbing discovery.  It appeared to me that I had over projected school district revenue from local property tax levies by $400,000. 

I went to the Board of Trustees at the March Board meeting and asked them to amend the budget, lowering revenue and expenditures both by $400,000.

Since the March meeting I have discussed this issue with the district auditors and found that the revenue projections made by Mrs. Snyder and misinterpret by me were correct.   There was no need to amend the revenue. 

My confusion was that the levy was approved in March of 2016 and I did not think the money from the increased levy was available to the district until July of 2017 which would be in next year’s budget.  I was unaware that the money is “accrued” and that the revenue forecast was correct.  My confusion, My Mistake.

The voters in the district approved the increase in revenue for the express purpose of replacing the roof at OHS and for the second year of the levy, replacing the roof at Timberline. 

The roof at OHS has been completed since September, and the roof at Timberline is “out to bid” at this point with bids being read on April 6^th and the roof being replaced this summer.

District budgets have been frozen to protect as much money as possible for a possible replacement of the Orofino Elementary School roof this summer as well.

Rumors are flying that money has been misplaced or lost, that could not be further from the truth.