KISD finding budget solutions, cutting costs
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

It has been just one week since Kilgore Independent School District Business Manager Revard Pfeffer announced to the KISD board of trustees that KISD is facing a deficit budget of more than $609,000.

But the administration has been busy in the last seven days and the number has changed dramatically.

Last night Pfeffer presented the board a revised estimate and a budget deficit that has been reduced to $249,213.

Pfeffer also presented to the board numbers reflecting a four percent pay raise for all district personnel except administration and teachers. "This would be approximately $110,000 added to the budget," said Pfeffer. "The numbers we are presenting today," Pfeffer told the board, "reflect that raise amount included."

So with only a week to crunch the numbers, where did all that money come from?

"Most of the money came from non-payroll budget cuts," said Jody Clements, KISD superintendent. "We looked at every area of the budget that was non-payroll and made cuts where we felt it was beneficial to the district."

Some of the money came from a proposal to eliminate the addition of a new counselor's position the administration had hoped to add.

"You have to understand the numbers we are presenting today could change by next week again," said Pfeffer. "We are looking to trim the fat in all areas, but hopefully not having to cut personnel."

The budget was cut significantly when two new buses and one new vehicle were cut from the budget completely.

Terry George, KISD board of trustee president, indicated the board would like to see the budget as close to balanced as possible so the district would not have to dip into reserves.

Clements said originally KISD had planned to give a raise to teachers who have topped out at 23 years on the pay scale, but because of budget restraints those long-tenured teachers will not get that hopedfor raise. "We have 75 teachers in the 23 plus year category," said Clements.

The board indicated last night that they do not want to raise taxes to cover the deficit.

Pfeffer said officials will continue to crunch the numbers to try and reduce the budge deficit before time to adopt the budget on August 26.

In last week's story on fuel increases, it was reported that KISD will pay 3 cents above rack prices for fuel in the 2008/2009 school year. Actually, the district will pay 12 cents above wholesale, an increase of 3 cents from last year's rate of nine cents above rack (whole- sale) rates.

The next budget meeting will be held on July 15 at 5 p.m. at the KISD administration buildi ng.