Lake Orion School Board Approves 2012-13 Budget

On Wednesday night the Lake Orion Board of Education unanimously approved the budget for the 2013 fiscal year. The vote was 6-0; Trustee Steven Drakos was absent. 

John Fitzgerald, assistant superintendent of business and finance for gave a thorough presentation about the upcoming budget at the school board meeting Wednesday at the .

Fitzgerald noted that for the 2012-13 school year the incoming funding at the federal, state and local level will be $314.69 less per student than the 2011-12 school year. Fitzgerald estimated a loss of more than $2.4 million due to the cut in funding resulting in a budgeted revenue of about $75.4 million for the 2012-2013 general fund budget. Likewise, Fitzgerald noted that there are continuing cost pressures with Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System rates increasing over 3 percent for the fiscal year 2013 and nearly another 4 percent for fiscal year 2014.

Total general fund expenditures outlined at the meeting were estimated at $77.2 million, over $4.1 million less than expenditures for the past school year. The estimated operating deficit was outlined at $1.78 million, but Fitzgerald said he expects it to be closer to the $1.71 million mark. The general fund balance is expected to be close to $8.96 million.

One time charges including $500,000 to the D.M. Burr Group for custodial services and a one-time charge for revamping the math curriculum due to were included in the presentation.

Some of the more notable changes that Fitzgerald highlighted at the meeting included an increase of about $86,000 in educational media services. Superintendent Marion Ginopolis noted that some of that money might be spent on bringing back the media specialist position, which was cut last year. Many line items in the general fund budget stayed pretty consistent. However, business services, operations and maintenance and technology services were all reduced by more than $1 million in expenditures.

Fitzgerald also pointed out during his presentation that since the 1999-2000 school year the district has made more than $19 million worth of cuts to its budget through operational streamlining, having shared personnel with other districts, restructuring bus routes and more.

Other meeting highlights included:

• Dolly Earle was recognized for her 25 years of service for the school’s food services program.
• The board unanimously approved the 2011-2012 final budget amendment resolution.
• Trustee Melissa Miller was designated as the board liaison who will be , which was selected to provide custodial services for the district beginning in August.
• The were accepted Wednesday, including middle school teacher Harvey Mallin, elementary school teachers Katherine Barney and Kelly Sharp.