Affton School Board Passes Balanced Budget

At its June meeting Tuesday night, the school board passed a balanced budget for the district’s 2011-2012 school year.

The budget projects total revenues of $27,246,300 for the coming school year and projected expenditures of $27,247,341. Business Director John Brazeal said that while budgets have been somewhat tight, the district has been successful at living within its means.

“Overall, it meets all the objectives of our plans,” Brazeal told the school board. “We are ending the current year better than we anticipated in the budget, and we hope to do the same thing next year as well.”

Brazeal told the board that increasing tax-levy rates to the voter-approved ceiling last fall and generally curtailing spending throughout the year contributed to this year’s improved financial outlook.

Despite a poor economy and uncertain state funding, the district’s property tax-based revenues have held steady for the past five years between $26 million and $28 million.

Brazeal said he hoped finances would remain strong for several more years before the district would need to look at adjusting taxes to keep up with inflation.

Affton High School Principal Sue Jackson said she was pleased with the budget, which gave each building an extra $25,000 for miscellaneous technology expenses. Meanwhile, the district has been able to move forward on its technology program; after this summer it will have installed SMART Boards in every academic classroom.