By Krista Duhon
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — The superintendent of schools in Miami says the district is weathering the latest round of budget cuts because of conservative spending practices, a carry-over of funds and a boost from federal stimulus money.
But, she said, the district may have to prepare for additional budget tightening next year.
As students returned to school in August, the state implemented cuts in state aid of 5 percent, which for Miami meant a loss of $20,046.92 that first month, according to Loretta Robinson, the superintendent. September’s and October’s allocations were reduced by $20,957.90 and $41,004.41, respectively, and district officials expect the cuts in the monthly allocations to continue.
The cuts are being whittled away from an initial state aid allocation for Miami that was projected at $9.1 million for the current fiscal year, which already was down by $600,000 from the previous fiscal year’s figure.
Robinson said the $600,000 cut was not related to a decline in enrollment.
“This is just how the state decided to dispense the funds this year,” she said.
Robinson said some Oklahoma educators believe the state used the stimulus funding to justify cutting state aid to schools, and then redirected the money that originally was budgeted for school allocations. For Miami, the stimulus funds came to $600,000 — the same as the earlier budget cut.
The Miami district entered the 2009-10 fiscal year with $2.6 million in reserves, said Robinson, who is in the middle of her first year with the district. She said about $200,000 of that is grant money that must be used for dedicated programs and cannot offer the district much in terms of offsetting cuts in state aid.
The stimulus funds can be spent at the district’s discretion.
“Because of good planning, we have a healthy fund balance,” Robinson said. “We are watching our budget very closely and making sure that we are spending our money wisely.”
The Miami district’s budget for 2009-10 projects spending of just over $17 million. Revenues are projected at $16.6 million, plus a carry-over from last year of $2.5 million.
Some Oklahoma schools have been looking at cutting programs and adopting four-day school weeks because of the budget cuts.
“We are not there yet,” Robinson said. “We are not in a panic situation. We have to be cautious about our spending and continue to manage our money well.”
District officials are expecting the budget to get even tighter. In January, Robinson said, the cost for insurance for employees is going to go up, but the state allocation for insurance is being reduced.
“Next year is when we will really feel the impact of these cuts to state aid allocations,” Robinson said. “This (stimulus) cushion will only last one year. That is why we must be planning effectively now.”
Oklahoma woes
During the first three months of the fiscal year that began July 1, the state collected about $1.1 billion in tax revenue. That’s about $462 million less than it collected during the same three months last year. State finance officials have told state agencies to expect 5 percent budget cuts for the rest of the fiscal year.
Local News
Superintendent: Miami school district weathering state cuts
- Local News
-
-
City wants to buy weather radios for those without
Phil Jones had been working on a construction project outside his house all day on May 22 and was unaware that a tornado watch had been issued. Once he was inside, though, his weather radio went off, and he learned that a warning had been issued.
-
Architects present preliminary JHS plans at community meeting
Reaction appeared mostly supportive Thursday night among the roughly 50 people who attended a community meeting at which architects presented their preliminary site plans for the future combined Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center.
-
Confessed shooter testifies against co-defendants in Pittsburg murder case
Rickey Smith testified Thursday that as he came in the back door of Ryan Bailey’s home in Pittsburg with a 9 mm pistol in his hand, Bailey looked up from the couch in his living room.
-
School district’s proposed street-closing plan questioned
Plans to close some streets near the proposed Joplin High School drew questions, including a challenge from a former Joplin mayor, during a public hearing this week.
-
Neosho council approves new golf cart contract
The purchase of golf carts was back on the agenda this week for the Neosho City Council. City Attorney Steve Hays said there were errors in the financing terms that were part of a bid approved last month for the purchase of 55 gas-powered carts from E-Z-Go for $144,195, so the purchase of a new fleet was rebid.
-
Mike Pound: Spirit of competition evident during double-overtime game
When I played basketball in high school, I played in several very close games.
Now, some people who may have known me in high school are probably laughing right now and saying, “What Mike meant to say is that when he was in high school, he came very close to playing in some games.” -
Mo. optometrist filed $40 million refund claim
A southwest Missouri optometrist who filed a tax return claiming a $40 million refund has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
-
Okla. receives waiver from No Child Left Behind
Oklahoma’s top education official reacted with glee Thursday with the announcement that the state is one of 10 states being granted a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law that requires students be proficient in reading and math by 2014 — but focused on getting students to “just pass the tests.”
-
Kan. House approves bipartisan redistricting bill
Power in the Kansas House is likely to shift next year from rural parts of the state to the Kansas City area after members overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill Thursday for redrawing their districts.
-
Fugitive in 1993 British heist arrested in Ozark
A man suspected of stealing about $1.5 million from a security van in England in 1993 has been arrested in southwest Missouri.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
