Board of education adopts funds

WARREN -- The board of education has adopted $88,486,477 in appropriations for the fiscal year, which began July 1.
This figure is made up of local, state and federal funds. The appropriations include all of the money that the board expects to spend on salaries and benefits, which comprise about four-fifths of the budget.
But it includes only 80 percent of money to be spent on discretionary items, such as supplies and purchased services, because the district's official enrollment and state funding levels are still unknown, said Treasurer Phillip D. Butto IV.
"To be fiscally responsible, we think that it's important that we know precisely where we stand funding-wise before we allocate all of our budget," he said.
Last year's total appropriations were $137,834,988. Last year's figure is considerably higher than this year's because it included construction money not included in this year's budget, Butto said.
Oct. 1 is the state-imposed deadline for the board to approve permanent appropriations for the current fiscal year. Until now, the board has been operating under a temporary appropriation resolution.