Dist. 300 Budget by the Numbers

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA["As you can see the education fund and transportation funds show a deficit because of the state funding issues as I shared at the meeting," said Dr. Kelly, as explained the spending plan in Du Quoin schools following last Thursday's meeting of the Du Quoin Board of Education.

Next year's budget is $14,172,831 not counting the $10.2 million in spending for the new Du Quoin High School next year.

"Upon the direction of the board we developed a budget that was very conservative on the revenue side in regard to some funds. The education fund reflects the loss of the last state aid payment for this year due to a proration since the state did not fund the state aid formula to the amount they agreed upon during last spring's budget," he adds.

"The state aid formula was to keep the foundation level the same as the previous year but with a shortfall of over $200 million not appropriated to the formula state aid will actually be funded at a proration of 95%," he continued.

"In regard to the transportation fund, we are looking at again receiving two of our four categorical aid payments for regular and special education transportation. That loss is reflected on the revenue side of what is stated in the budget summary. If we continue to watch our spending and with the state actually providing the revenue to be received in accordance with the state aid formula and mandated categorical programs we should still have a balanced budget for the eighth year in a row."