School Sets Tax Rate
The GCISD school board on Aug. 25 approved the 2003-2004 budget and set the new tax rate at $1.50. Projected revenues will be approximately $5.9 million and budgeted expenditures are $6.1 million. School Superintendent Steve Long anticipates holding expenditures to 95 percent of the budgeted amount.
There was mention of a new shop building. In order to pay for such a building, Long said there is $20,000 in the budget for building improvement and $60,000 could be taken out of reserves. There was discussion of looking at Midland College’s shop facility and scaling down from it.
The board discussed cafeteria losses, which run approximately $85,000 per year, and discussed how money can be saved without sacrificing food quality. Some savings will come from having a smaller enrollment. Long said approximately 52 percent of meals served are “free lunches.”
Long suggested that the school bid out a grounds maintenance job. He said two of the maintenance staff are now working a lot of overtime to get everything done.