Herald staff
SNOHOMISH — In spite of a projected 100 percent increase in energy costs, the Snohomish School Board has balanced its budget for 2001-2002.
Superintendent Neal Powell said this week that PUD officials have told the school district to expect to spend twice last year’s amount for electricity and gas.
In addition, Powell said the assessed valuation in the district has increased since last year, so the district was not eligible for levy equalization money.
"We took a $1.2 million hit with no offsetting revenue," Powell said of the combination of factors.
The $67 million budget breaks down as follows:
The general fund increased about $3 million from last year.
Powell said the district will use funds from Initiative 728, a measure passed last November that provides money for improving student achievement, for staff development.
Money also is budgeted for increasing maintenance and custodial services.
"During the lean years, those things were let go, but now we’re trying to get them back in shape," said Powell, who is in his second year as superintendent of the Snohomish School District.
The budget, approved by the school board Aug. 8, includes a 3.7 percent state-mandated raise for teachers, whose contract with the district expires at the end of this month.
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