Batavia school district continues mulling over budget for next fiscal year

The new superintendent for Batavia School District 101 took his place at the table at the school board meeting July 25, and the administration and board members discussed the tentative budget for fiscal 2024.

Superintendent Tom Kim began his new position July 1. Former superintendent Lisa Hichens retired June 30.

“I’m really impressed with just this communal heartfelt welcome that not only I have received, but my family as well,” Kim said. “I have to be honest. It has struck me in a way that I would not have expected. … I knew this was a great place. That’s why I interviewed. It’s been amazing.”

After the board welcomed Kim, Chief Financial Officer Tony Inglese provided summary highlights of the tentative budget.

He said there is a surplus of $2.4 million. According to a report, revenue will be $133 million, which is a 5% increase. Expenditures will increase 7.2% at $130.5 million.

“We do have a surplus,” Inglese said. “So we’re OK.”

Salaries will increase by more than 8% and cost $53.3 million.

Inglese said more money had been spent in previous years. The past fiscal year, money had been spent from pandemic money, meaning there was more funds that needed to be spent.

Inglese said the $2.2 million surplus is the same as the interest.

“Take the win,” board member Sue Locke said. “We’ve never gotten interest on our investments. I always remember having to borrow the money to make it through the next month.”

The report showed the staffing increase trend, increasing by 3.6% to 667.7 full-time employees in 2022.

Student enrollment is expected to decline by 2.2% to about 5,137 students, which could mean smaller classroom sizes.

The next step to the budget process will be an Aug. 22 public hearing for the community and a discussion of possible revisions. On Sept. 19, the board is expected to adopt the final budget.