Clark County School Board approves $2.2 billion budget
The Clark County School Board approved a $2.2 billion budget for the 2014-15 school year on Thursday that includes money for more teachers, assistant principals, deans, buses, school support staff and full-day kindergarten classrooms.
The Clark County School District expects a $61 million increase in revenue and plans to eliminate $7 million in contracts with two companies providing lackluster results in the opinion of Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky, who recommended the contracts not be renewed.
The district also is struggling to replenish the savings in its main operating account as a safety net for a rainy day. The School Board unanimously agreed Thursday to continue waiving its own requirement that at least 2 percent of its annual expenses, or $43 million, be left unused for emergencies. The district has only saved half that amount in recent years.
However, the district plans to add $6.08 million to its savings, reaching $31.9 million or 1.5 percent of its expenses.
It’s important to keep in mind though that the approved budget is a tentative plan based on a predicted increase in revenue from the state, property taxes and school support taxes. The district is also predicting an increase of about 3,400 students for an all-time high enrollment of 318,000 students.
Contact Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279. Find him on Twitter: @TrevonMilliard.
