Meeting in special session, the Cardington-Lincoln Board of Education approved a preliminary plan to eliminate the projected deficit for the immediate 2016 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years.
Cardington-Lincoln Superintendent Brian Petrie said the board had approved a five-year forecast for October 2015 projecting a deficit of over $400,000 by June 2016.
The board’s approved plan included the following reductions for expenditures for 2016: immediate elimination of classified positions (that were approved Feb. 18) two custodians, three full time aide positions; and reduction of hours for two additional aide positions -totaling $26,000; elimination of overtime for classified staff members effective February 2016 totaling $3,000; and a reduction of general supplies and paper requests through June 30 totaling $5,000.
The total reductions to previous forecast comes to $168,000.
Deducted from the forecasted general fund deficit leaves a projected fiscal year deficit of $232,000.
But through a tax anticipation loan in June 2016 ( an advance on July SDIT settlement) of $300,000 the district anticipates an ending balance of $68,000.
Changes to 2017 fiscal year will continue with a reduction of classified positions, which includes two custodians, three full-time aide positions, as well as a reduction in the hours for two additional aide positions totaling $78,000.
The plan will also eliminate three certified teaching positions (September 2016-June 2017); one kindergarten, one sixth grade and one gifted reading teacher grades K-6, which will cut $105,000 from the budget.
The approved preliminary plan will include elimination of summer custodial staff totaling $25,000 and administrative reductions pay freeze totaling $17,800, as well as a reduction of administrative retirement pickup benefit by 4 percent totaling $11,800.
Total reductions are anticipated to be $288,400 for the 2017 fiscal year.
Petrie told the board that potential reductions of savings being negotiated or pending include a certified pay freeze in 2017 totaling $148,392 and certified reduction by attrition and retirement savings.
The preliminary plan has been submitted to the Ohio Board of Education for approval.
The Cardington BOE approved a preliminary plan for budget deficit cuts.
