Tuesday morning, The Louisville Municipal School District held its annual budget meeting for the public. The meeting took place at the central office building, and the public was informed of expenses as well as provided an update on projects that have already begun.
The Louisville Municipal School District is not seeking a millage increase and will operate on the same requested amount as last year. LMSD will operate on $41,966,422.00 this school year, of that $41,852,092. Of that amount, 16.94 percent, or $7,090,000, will come from ad valorem taxes. VanLandingham stated the revenue is from local, state, and federal funding, including ad valorem income and 16th section land income.
This number is actually down from last year. During the 2022-2023 school year, LMSD operated on $44,310,346. Of that amount, 15.70 percent, or $6,957,400, came from ad valorem taxes. Luke told those in attendance, which included community members and parents in the district, because LMSD had reached the state allotted 55 millage cap, they could not request an increase.
According to state law, “...if the millage rate necessary to generate funds equal to the dollar amount requested by the school board is greater than fifty-five (55) mills, and if this millage rate is higher than the millage then being levied pursuant to the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort for the currently existing fiscal year, then the levying authority shall call a referendum on the question of exceeding, during the next fiscal year, the then existing millage rate being levied for school district purposes. The referendum shall be scheduled for not more than six (6) weeks after the date on which the levying authority receives the school board's order requesting the ad valorem tax effort.”
This means that if LMSD were to request a millage rate, it would have to pass a referendum to do so.
Instructional expenses make up 47 percent of the district’s total expenses. Other expenses include student support staff, maintenance, school administration staff, general administration staff, transportation, and non-instructional expenses. Facilities construction takes up thirteen percent of the budget. Luke said those expenses include district-wide renovations.
The renovations would include “restroom upgrades” and the “vo-tech roof.”
VanLandingham began the presentation by sharing a breakdown of the proposed budget. Her presentation listed various funding methods, including federal and state monies, grants, income from 16th section land, and ad valorem revenue. VanLandingham also shared that this year’s budget has some Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief or ESSR funds carried over to complete some district projects.
VanLandingham would eventually explain that ESSR funds were federal funds brought about during the Trump administration. Some of this money had to do with COVID funding, and some of the projects had to be utilized to help prevent the spread of the virus. Luke mentioned that upgrades to restrooms were a part of this funding.
She also shared what American Rescue Plan Act funds or “ARPA” funds are. These are funds provided to schools (and other state entities) established by President Biden’s administration. Many funds disseminated to public agencies were earmarked to purchase certain items or make improvements related to the pandemic.
Luke also mentioned other projects that had begun in FY 2023 but would be completed this year. These included HVAC and restroom projects; Luke added that the district is in the process of getting quotes to carry out safety updates, including fencing and playground upgrades. The superintendent noted that the projects would be brought back before the board for final approval once the bids were gathered.
The floor was then opened for questions from the audience, which Luke took time to answer. Questions about grants and the process by which funding might be obtained in this way were brought forward. He stated that the district utilizes multiple grants, such as the 21st Century grant (which provided the HEROES program this summer).
Luke noted that some grants, even aggressively pursued, are never awarded to the school; plus, some grants provide funding exclusively for certain projects, and any monies the district might receive must be spent per the provisions of the grant. He said that LMSD was the recipient of the largest grant awarded in the state (having to do with security).
Another attendee asked if there was a breakdown of what is spent at each school in the district. Luke replied that there will be a breakdown and that this breakdown would be published in the local newspaper at a later date.
A final question had to do with the cost of school supplies and whether Educational Enhancement Funds or EEF could be utilized to pay for such. Dr. Luke revealed that he had spoken with the building principals at each school and asked them to encourage the teachers to trim down supply lists as much as possible in order to decrease the impact on parents. He added that some teachers do purchase supplies with their EEF money. “That’s the conversation (regarding slimming down supply lists) I’m trying to have (with building principals) in order to minimize (economic) impact (on parents).”
Luke was also asked about increasing security at the school. He reassured the audience that the Director of Security is working with the Department of Homeland Security and is also constantly carrying out threat assessments to improve and ensure the safety of all LMSD students.
VanLandingham told attendees that they expect the budget to be brought to the board during the next monthly meeting on August 8 at 5:30 p.m. The Louisville Municipal School District begins school on Friday, August 4.
