School budget revenue up 4%

McCOOK, Neb. — Revenue for the General Fund at McCook Public Schools will increase by over 4% next year, according to the 2023 budget for the MPS school district.

McCook Schools Business Manager Jeff Gross presented the 2022-23 budget at the budget hearing Monday night at the regular School Board meeting. Because the school board’s budget has increased by 3.49%, more than the 2.74% allowed by the Property Tax Request Act, the school’s budget will be presented again at a meeting Monday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m., at the junior high conference room. The school board will then be asked to approve the budget and the property tax request on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at a special meeting.

Red Willow County and the City of McCook both have 2023 budgets that were below 2.74% and are not required at the Sept. 19 meeting. The property tax levy for the county, city and school district have all been decreased from 2022 rates.

Money in the MPS General Fund is used to help pay for salaries of employees and supplies, while funds deposited in the Special Building Fund pay for construction/renovation costs. Property tax deposited in the Bond Fund are used to pay bond indebtedness.

The Bond Fund is for the addition and renovations made to McCook Elementary, with original bond payments beginning in 2008. The bond was re-financed in 2012 and again in 2021 and is expected to be retired in 2025. The annual payments for principal and interest in the Bond Fund are approximately $417,000.

Total revenues for the General Fund in 2023 will increase by 4.35% at $18.2 million, up from $17.4 million in 2022. Property taxes make up the majority of revenue to the school district, with $9.2 million for 2023, up from $8.9 million in 2022. Other revenue comes from state receipts ($7.62 million for 2023, $7.64 million in 2022) and federal receipts ($1.01 million in 2023, $724,200 in 2022).

State aid to the district in 2023 will decrease by 1.71%.

Staff salaries and benefits take up the lion’s share of the school district’s budget, at 84%. A total of $15.3 million is budgeted for 2023 for staff salaries/benefits. The rest of the budget, at 15.30%, is used for non-staff expenditures, such as maintenance, technology and textbooks and comes to $2.8 million for 2023.

The Depreciation Fund is a component of the General Fund and is used to purchase textbooks, computers, roofs, etc, or any item that is replaceable.

Total expenditures for the depreciation fund budgeted for 2023 are $1.02 million, lower than the $1.93 budgeted in 2022.

“Depreciation Fund strategies” in the 2023 budget, compared to 2022, are:

Capital outlay (architect): 2022, $64,443; 2023, $48,428

Parking lot, high school/junior high: 2022, $400,000; 2023: $4,483

Maintenance equipment: 2022, $51,131; 2023, $78,741

Utilities/building/infrastructure: 2022, $103,270; 2023, $114,000

Kitchen equipment: 2022, $10,000; 2023, $10,000

Roofing: 2022, $373,855; 2023, $408,257

Furniture and equipment: none

Activity facilities

Tennis Courts: 2022, $16,636; 2023, $41,636

Track: 2022, $156,156; 2023, $10,000

Gym floors: 2022, $62,500; 2023, $87,500

Outdoor lighting: 2022, $0; 2023, $41,050

Track equipment (pits): 2022, $0; 2021, $24,918

Bus/vehicle acquisition:

Activity Bus: 2022, $224,918; 2023, $200,000

Route Bus: 2022, 141,050; 2023, $100,000

Pickups: 2022, $58,000; 2023, $83,000

Vans/mini vans: 2022, $110,100; 2023, $110,000

Technology: 2022, $160,485; 2023, $210,485

Total expenditures in the Special Building Fund in 2023 come to $295,000 and revenue, $395,000. Expenditures for 2023 include $60,000 for building, acquisition and improvement; $180,000 for building improvement; $50,000 for Energy loan payment, principal; and $5,000 for Energy loan payment, interest, $5,000.