Assistant Supt. for Finance and Operations Patricia Velie called it “a snapshot in time,” but Wayland Union Schools’ budget continues to show a pretty nice picture.

Velie Monday night told members of the Board of Education that revenue for the 2022-23 fiscal year budget was nearly $30 million and expenditures were about $3.2 million less,  adding to an already more than reasonable fund balance, or rainy day fund.

She told the board the district will hold the line on tax revenue at 18 mills for businesses and and industries, six for residential and 8.4 for debt relief, as promised during the recent successful bond campaign.

Velie said she expects state aid to provide an additional $458 per pupil, from $9,180 to $9,608, for an additional $1.27 million in revenue for the next fiscal year.

Furthermore, Gun Lake Casino revenue sharing this past year approached $2 million and it is expected that figure will climb to more than $2.11 million next year.

It all sounds promising, but employee groups appear to be asking for higher than usual pay increases because of the bump in inflation over the last two years. For example, building administrators will seek a 7 percent increase, nonaffiliated employees 5% and secretaries 6%.

Added to that is the end of the free meal grant program during the Covid years and the summer “Fantastic” breakfast and lunch funding. And the Chartwell food service program anticipates raising prices by 5.5%.

It should be noted that general fund revenues and expenditures are separate from the $49,7 million bond that approved May 2, which may only be used for projects specified in the bond request.

In other business Monday, the school board:

• Fielded a proposal for a therapy dog at the high school from ninth grade teacher Sarah Rollandini, who introduced “Jovy,” her year and a half old Labradoodle trained in being such a creature. She said she’d like to bring Jovy in to her classroom two or three times a week and let her help students meet emotional needs. No action was taken, but several board members said they liked the ideas.
• Received a recommendation from Velie to spend $124,224 on new fitness center equipment and send the current devices to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department.
• Received a recommendation to have the cafeteria roof replaced at Dorr Elementary for $78,000.
• Tabled a request from Velie to hire Michael Tanksley to a part-time post as accountant at $65 an hour, mostly for 15 to 20 hours a week. Velie stressed that the accountant’s post wasn’t filled full time last year and Tanksley gave the district a bargain because he had done the job in previous years.
• Approved, on a 4-1 vote, a proposal to extend the “Capturing Kids’ Hearts” program for $55,000 for another year. Trustee Jeff Koon cast the dissenting vote.

• Agreed to change the date of the next regular board meeting from Monday, July 10, to Monday, July 17.
• Recognized members of the volunteer bond proposal subcommittee for their tireless and successful efforts on behalf of the May 2 issue. (See Cover Photo)
• Heard a report from Supt. Tim Reeves about the joint meeting with representatives from the City Council last month, noting there were interesting discussions about school-related traffic issues along Superior Street Carlin in the morning and in the afternoon.