In tough budget times, the school board has had to get creative to ensure that the district makes all ends meet without affecting the quality of services to the students of St. Johns County.
It was with this in mind that the board met recently for a public hearing to amend its capital outlay budget for 2007-2008.
According to Margie Davidson, director of community relations, the capital outlay budget has been amended before to allow the board to use funds for purposes not normally covered by the capital budget.
The school board works with two budgets each year—the operating budget and the capital budget. The major difference between the two is that capital funds are used for construction and the money is not earmarked for operational use.
At the May school board meeting, the board adopted an amendment to the capital outlay budget that allows the district to pay premiums on its property and casualty insurance from capital outlay funds.
Darrell Colee, director of budget for the district, said approving this amendment gives the board the ability to move funds from the capital budget, but does not guarantee that it will happen.
Approximately $2 million was allocated to pay the insurance premiums from the capital moneys, however Colee does not feel there will be a significant effect to the capital budget.
While St. Johns County is a growing district, there are no immediate plans to build any new structures, and this transfer allows the district the funds to continue to provide services.
“We are not planning on building any new schools in the next one to two years,” said Colee, “so we have some flexibility here.”
With no objections to the amendment, it passed unanimously.
Staff writer Sara Kaufman can be
reached at 285-8831, extension 26,
or skaufman@jcpgroup.com
