Dowagiac Board of Education made its first revisions to the 2012-13 budget Monday night in the middle school cafeteria.

Finance Director Dawn Copley said general fund revenues are projected at $20,038,234, which includes using $173,590 for fund equity projects.

This reflects a $761,308 revenue increase — $698,000 from grants.

Expenses are projected at $20,905,677, an increase of $329,748, which leaves an $867,443 deficit.

Part of the increase for both revenue and expenditures, $301,251, is due to financing three buses through United Federal Credit Union.

The food service fund is balanced at $1,065,389.

The debt retirement budget, based on a millage rate of 2.65 mills, was not revised.

“We had a $72,000 increase in curriculum for textbooks for biology, chemistry and Spanish,” Copley said.

Budget assumptions included a blended enrollment of 2,335.3, a state aid foundation allowance of $6,966, retirement rate reduced by 2.01 percent to 25.36 percent, grants funded at break even and $173,590 in fund equity projects, such as the doors at Union High, which are not Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

“They’re the original 1960s doors,” Maintenance Supervisor Dave Daniels said. “They don’t close very well or lock very well. I’d like to replace the whole building, but that’s a pretty expensive ticket, so I’d like to replace the west side, which would get us off to a good start.”

Daniels said the sets of four doors in the cafeteria or the school entry cost $22,536.

“I’m also proposing an extensive roofing program encompassing four different buildings, based on 18 years of inspections. It was very warm over the summer. These roofs are black rubber membranes. Heat is a catalyst for a chemical reaction which means a slow breakdown of the roofs. Rubber’s starting to stretch. Where seams overlap, you’re starting to see edges curl up. I’d like to see us pursue at least a portion of it,” Daniels said. “Doors, I need a four-month lead time.”

 

District putting

policies online

 

Best practices

 

Seven of eight categories.

Annual $52 per pupil contributed to general fund.

 

Summer property

tax resolution

 

Summer tax collection “insures we have enough funding for September, when we do not receive money from the state. Therefore, we do not have to borrow,” Supt. Dr. Mark Daniel said.