Published: November 13, 2008 09:52 am      

Board working to reduce athletics deficit

CLINTON — The Clinton Community School Board approved a plan during this week’s regular meeting that will help reduce the district’s activities fund deficit.

The issue originated in August, when board members were presented with the option of working to resolve the historic debt of just over $500,000 in the middle and high school student activities line item. At that time, Superintendent Rich Basden noted that the board could also opt to leave the deficit, which has been accruing for more than a decade, as it is, and continue to prevent it from growing.

During the August meeting, administrators from Washington and Lyons middle schools as well as Clinton High reported to the board that every possible measure has been taken to trim costs from the 18 sport programs being offered, including replacing paid ticket-takers and concession stand workers with volunteers at district events, and reducing transportation costs. CHS Athletic Director Gary Lueders stated that the Athletic Boosters Club has provided tremendous assistance to the district, raising donations to pay for uniforms and equipment.

Basden also remarked that his predecessors did an excellent job of handling the district’s budget, and that the historic deficit grew out of what could possibly be seen as a “mistake” that occurred several years ago when the decision was made to code student athletics as a separate line item rather than leaving them in the general fund. He added that because student activities have “no regular revenue stream,” it is virtually impossible to keep the budget in the black.

During that meeting, board members asked for more detailed information on expenditures and revenues before making any decisions.

During this week’s meeting, the board voted unanimously to begin using money from the general fund to draw down on the shortfall. The plan, which was proposed by Chief Financial Officer Gayle Isaac and approved by the district’s auditors, states the general fund balance will be evaluated annually.

In the event that the district comes in under budget at the end of any given fiscal year, the board will have the ability of transferring expenses from the student activities fund to the general fund.

The plan stipulated that the expenses must be those that “legitimately could have been paid from the general fund,” and “do not exceed the amount that is identified as the budget savings.”

In other business, Basden reported to board members that the proper documentation has been provided to the Clinton County Auditor for the sales tax renewal, and the vote on the revenue purpose statement has been scheduled for Dec. 2. The polling will be at the Church of the Open Door, 816 13th Ave. North.

Board President Thea Engelson added that anyone with questions about the sales tax issue should feel free to contact any of the board members, or the Roosevelt Administration Center, for further information.

“We want to make sure that everybody knows exactly what is going on,” Engelson said.