The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees on Monday voted unanimously to adopt a $340,330,692 budget for FY2013.
The budget includes General Fund expenditures of $275,560,339, with revenues exceeding expenditures by $2,141. The Food Service Fund also balances out in favor of revenues, with expenditures of $14,087,700, leaving $231,200 in projected revenues unspent. However, the district’s Debt Service Fund, which is used to pay off past bond debts, carries a total projected expenditure of $50,682,633, exceeding revenues by $1,557,633. Clear Creek ISD currently has a fund balance of $5,576,989 in its Debt Service Fund that will be drawn on to pay the difference.
During the meeting, the board held public hearings regarding the budget as well as the 2012 proposed tax rate.
The district is proposing a property tax rate of $1.36 per $100 valuation, which is the same as the 2011 rate. A $1.04 portion of the rate will be dedicated to maintenance and operations expenditures, while $0.32 per $100 valuation will be used to make payments on the district’s debts.
The proposed tax rate is equal to the rollback rate, which is the highest amount the district can levy before a rollback election is triggered, requiring voter approval to adopt the rate. The proposed rate will be considered for formal adoption at a later date.
The board voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith by one year. Smith’s contract will continue through 2017.
The board voted to uphold the findings of a Level III employee complaint. Therefore, a request to escalate to a Level IV complaint was denied.
The board voted to approve the formation of a Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee.
“Clear Creek ISD last formed a Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee in the Fall of 2006,” Smith said. “This committee reviewed the long range facility needs of the district and developed recommendations for a successful bond election that was held in May of 2007. Since that time our enrollment has continued to grow and some of our aging facilities are in need of renovation and repair. In order to meet the challenges of the next few years, it is imperative to provide long range funding sources for our long range facility needs.”
The board voted to continue with arbitration in the matter of Clear Creek Independent School District vs. Cotton Commercial USA, f/k/a Cottonwood Debris Company, LLC.
The item was discussed in closed session.
The board voted to approve a partnership with College of the Mainland to allow high school students to enroll in the college’s Collegiate High School program.
All items were approved. All votes were unanimous with all members present. Agenda