Waukee Schools Audit Report Released, Can Be Found Online

Van Maanen, Sietstra & Meyer, PC, Certified Public Accountants released an audit report on the Waukee Community School District, according to the district's website. The district’s revenues totaled $87,204,155 for the fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2012. This was a 6.7% increase from the prior year.

Revenues included $40,929,986 in local tax money; charges for service of $6,600,083; operating grants, contributions and restricted interest of $8,919,917; unrestricted interest of $39,163; and other general revenues of $30,715,006, the audit said.

Expenses for Waukee Schools operations totaled $76,392,522, a 9.1 percent increase from the prior year, the audit said. Expenses included $42,519,470 for instruction, $18,489,144 for support services, $4,623,843 for non-instructional services and $10,760,065 for other expenditures.

A copy of the audit report is available for review in the District Secretary’s Office, in the Office of the Auditor of State and on the Auditor of State’s website

The Waukee school district also saw an increase in student enrollment of about 610 students, the report said. Certified enrollment numbers were submitted to the state for approval on Oct. 1, 2012, which is referred to as count day. If approved by the state, this will bring Waukee Schools' certified enrollment to 7,721 students.

The school district is constructing Woodland Hills Elementary to open the fall of 2013. Timberline 8-9 building is in development and will open for the 2015-16 school year. The Timberline project, with an estimated cost of $30 million, will be paid for by bonding against the future proceeds of the statewide penny sales tax. There will be no increase in taxes to pay for this project, the district said.

The 2012 legislative session will begin in January and many issues that will impact K-12 public schools will be discussed. Allowable growth for 2012-13 was set at 2 percent, the legislature will be discussing the rate for 2013-14.  Allowable growth is the figure on which school budgets are based.

In 2011-12 allowable growth was 0 percent, and the governor is currently proposing to do away with allowable growth; this will have a significant negative impact on schools. This means that the district receives “new” money only for the increase in enrollment from last year. Allowable growth allows school districts to pay for increased IPERS cost, insurance increases and general inflation in the prices of the goods we need every day, the district says.

If you would like to keep yourself aware of legislation that affects public schools go to https://www.legis.iowa.gov/index.aspx