Bessemer approves 2015-16 school budget

BESSEMER - The Bessemer School Board approved the proposed budget for the 2015-16 school year on Monday.

The board heard the district received revenues of $3,843,584 for the 2014-15 school year and expenditures were $3,914,167. The fund balance at the beginning of the 2014-15 year was $216,538. The fund balance is projected to be $145,918 at the end of 2014-15.

For this coming school year, the anticipated total revenue is $3,686,534, with expected expenditures of $3,704,965 and an anticipated fund balance of $127,487 at the end of the 2015-16 year.

Last year, the district received $143,097 in revenue for the food service budget. For the 2015-16 school year, the proposed budget is $139,400.

Last school year, the district spent $162,759 on food service expenditures, counting a $19,661 transfer to the food service budget. For the 2015-16 school year, the proposed total expenditures are expected to be $148,485 with a $9,085 transfer, according to business manager Chris Bergquist.

During the 2014-15 school year, the district rceived $29,011 in revenues from athletics.

"Revenue is down a little, but the only high school track meet scheduled on our field was canceled due to weather," Bergquist said." In addition, at the junior high track meet that we hosted, there was no gate fee."

According to Bergquist, the biggest revenue rise from the Wakefield-Marenisco payment of $7,473 for the football co-op program.

For the coming school year, the board expects to perceive $30,146 from athletics.

Last school year, the district spent $99,479 for all sports. For the coming school year, the district approved of paying $1,651 for helmets and shoulder pads for the football team.

"The big increase in the budget is due to football for the helmets and shoulder pads that we have to do," Bergquist said.

With the payment for the football equipment, the total budget allowed on expenditures is $105,582.