As the new school year starts, the Rock Island School District is nearly finished preparing a new budget. Tonight the board of education will review the proposed 76 million dollar revenue and spending plan.
Chief Financial Officer, Bob Beckwith, says state aid will go up - from last year's level of 89 per cent of the authorized amount (about $ 6,400 per pupil), to 92 per cent this year. And those three percentage points equal about half a million dollars for the Rock Island schools.
In addition, state payments for transportation, special education, and other programs are very uncertain for the coming school year.
On the plus side though, Beckwith say the Rock Island district has been accepted for a federal program that will allow all students to receive a free breakfast and lunch for the next four years - the district will be reimbursed based on the number of meals served.
Following tonight's presentation, the proposed budget will be on display for 30 days, with final adoption expected late next month (9/22).
