Austin school board sets hearing on $724.2 million budget, vote on spending, 43% less per student than Madison

Melissa B. Taboada:

Residents will get a chance to voice their thoughts on the Austin school district's $724.2 million operating budget for 2012-13 at a public hearing tonight.

The school board then will vote on the district's spending, though it will not approve the final budget, which includes district revenue, until August.

Board members originally considered voting on the entire budget tonight but put off the decision because they haven't decided whether to move forward with a tax rate election in November.

The spending plan includes using $14.2 million from the district's reserves to give employees a one-time payment equivalent to a 3 percent raise. That bump in pay could become permanent if the board moves forward with, and voters approve, a tax rate increase.

School trustees have said they want to wait on the tax decision until they know what other jurisdictions are doing.

Austin will spend $724,200,000 for 86,697 students ($8,353/student). The 2011-2012 Madison school district budget spent roughly $369,394,753 for 24,861 students ($14,858.40 / student), or 43% more than Austin.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at June 19, 2012 5:58 AM
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