RC Superintendent Tidbits
By: Mark Otten
Budget numbers are coming together and we are much improved compared to two years ago in our general fund. As you are all aware, we had to ask our local property taxpayers to step up and help get us out of the hole and our patrons did just that. We are not quite to the position we need to be in the general fund, however, we are getting close. If things continue down the same path, we could be looking at lowering our asking for the 2023-2024 school year. Unfortunately, we are not quite there yet so we are probably looking at the same asking in the general fund for the 2022-2023 school year as we asked for this past year.
I am proud to report that along with the increase in tax asking, the district has been very fiscally responsible in the general fund. Our spending for the 2021-2022 school year was lower than either of the previous two years. Going back to the 2018-2019 school year, our average spending has increased by 1.3% per year. With continued conservatism in our spending and the additional tax asking, we will be in really good shape soon in regards to our general fund.
The special building fund, which is used for most repairs or upgrades to facilities, is not in great shape either. The unexpected cost of replacing bleachers and part of the gym floor a few years ago depleted this fund. We have worked on replenishing over the past two years but with our issues in the general fund and the unexpected repairs to our buildings, we have not gained ground. We are also at the point of needing to put a finish layer on the track in order to keep it from going into disrepair. Our facilities are in good shape but they are in need of some updates and those will need to start happening soon. The Rock County Board of Education, along with myself, will work very hard to keep the financial burden to a minimum for our taxpayers but we cannot ignore the needs of our facilities.