AISD adopts budget, prepares for tax rate

June 25--ATHENS -- With the Athens Independent School District fiscal year set to end June 30, the school board met Monday, and approved the 2014-15 budget.

Overall, there is less than a 2-percent increase in the budget, while the tax rate will be addressed in a future meeting.

Athens ISD's fiscal year begins July 1, and ends June 30. State law and board policy requires that the budget be adopted prior to July 1 for three specific funds: Local Maintenance Fund; Debt Service Fund; and Child Nutrition Fund.

The tax rate will be adopted in compliance with the state-tax calendar and board policy, typically during August.

In what is expected to be a balanced budget, the Local Maintenance Fund is set at $25,303,404 for the upcoming year. Instruction consumes 69 percent of the budget at $14,223,017, while maintenance and transportation is second at 17 percent.

Local taxes are expected to produce 50 percent of the revenue, while state and federal funds will complete the budget.

Athens ISD serves 3,400 students with a staff of 461, and receives $4.8 million in federal and state program grants.

The Child Nutrition Budget is set at $1,781,931, while the Debt Service Fund is set at $2,215,200.

The 2014 estimated tax roll is $1,297,938,598, with 63 percent being residential. The proposed tax rate is $1.19647 per $100 evaluation, which is a one-cent increase from last year.

If approved, taxes are expected to increase $20.60 for a home valued at $105,565.

A public hearing was held for the budget and proposed tax rate. No members of the public spoke.

Other items approved by the school board during Monday's meeting include the 14-15 compensation plan, Children's Internet Protection Act, Student Acceptable Use Policy, Employee Acceptable Use Policy, meal pricing, student athletic insurance, a waiver for low attendance days and a contract with Strategic Planning for Practitioners Consulting Firm.

The board approved purchases of three items over $10,000. Those include the purchase of Microsoft licensing, eSTAR software and a tractor for the maintenance department.

During executive session, the board discussed various personnel matters. In open session, the board approved the employment of Bryan Hurst, Terri Easley, Vanessa Tanguma, Nicole Yeakley, Sherrilyn Ewing, Kayla Benton, Mart Graham, Emily Martinez, Adam Ray, Jason Wallace, Gracie Elizardo and Ashley Guerrero.

Resignations were accepted from the following: Dwayne Davis; Kelli Rodriguez; Kern Railsback; Laura McNally; Alyssa Haynes; Samantha Nichols; Dee Ann Evans; Suzy Foster; Cedric Barrett; and Cade Allen.

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