As student counts decrease across the state, Romeo Community Schools is facing budget issues resulting from a lower-than-expected student count this fall.
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The student count, which is taken the taken once in the fall and once in the spring, has cost the district approximately $320,000 as the district will be receiving that much less from student foundation grants.
Presently the administration has covered those costs with fund equity.
Concerns about the issue and the potential impact it will have on the district were raised during the RCS Board of Education’s regular meeting Nov. 10.
The board briefly discussed whether or not dipping further into fund equity should the need arise was a prudent move, or whether further cuts in the district should be examined.
“For the past five or six years, our reductions have always been the following year. I don’t remember semester reductions,” said Superintendent Joseph Beck. “That is a decision the board will have to make. After so many years of reductions, we are running out of places to cut.”
Trustee Dale Chesney said he was concerned about the amount of fund equity money being used to cover costs this year.
“I would be inclined to try and at least minimize any more reductions out of fund equity knowing what we are going to face and how long we’ll face economic stress,” said Chesney. “Right now our fund equity is dangerously low.”
RCS entered the current fiscal year with more than $3.5 million in fund equity.
Executive Director of Business Affairs Cynthia Schwark will present the board with a current amended budget at its December meeting.
Schwark and Beck agreed that the administration would not be ready for a discussion of potential budget cuts by that time.
According to RCS administrators, the student population across the state is down by more than 20,000 over last year.
