Riverview Officials Balance the Budget

One week after presenting a budget with a , Riverview officials said they have been able to close that gap.

At Monday's school board study session, district Business Manager Frank Thompson said administrators reviewed the budget further and were able to trim several expenditure line items.

Supplies, curriculum development, benefits and the cost of enrollment at Forbes Road Career & Technology Center were among the items that were shaved.

The $17.1 million budget includes a 0.736-mill tax hike. With the proposed tax increase, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay about $73 more in school taxes next school year.

The current millage rate is 24.05. Riverview has raised taxes every year for the last several years, except for the 2008-09 school year in which taxes were decreased by 0.25 mills.

The budget does not include teacher furloughs or any additional state revenue. It has been speculated the district could receive about $150,000 to $200,000 in basic education subsidy and accountability block grant money if a bill in the state Legislature that would restore funding to districts is passed.

District Superintendent Charles Erdeljac said he is pleased with where the district stands budget-wise.

"We're in a position that a lot of districts aren't in," he said.

School board members said they are happy the district budget doesn't include the possible money from the state because it's not a definite thing.

The board is expected to approve a final budget at its June 27 regualr board meeting at 7 p.m. at the library.