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Schools

School Board tentatively passes budget

The proposed $987-million budget has $260-million for improvements in the midst of an aggressive building program.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published August 4, 2005

Pasco County school officials on Tuesday tentatively approved a proposed $987-million budget for the coming school year.

The financial plan represents a 24 percent annual increase, with the greatest spending increase planned in the area of school construction.

The 60,000-student, 7,325-employee district is expected to grow by 3,500 students and 600 employees this year. It is in the midst of an aggressive building program, with $260-million designated for new construction and renovation projects in the coming fiscal year.

Among the proposed budget highlights:

Capital expenditures will increase to $317-million - a growth of $111.3-million, or 54 percent, over 2004-05.

The proposed $440-million general fund represents a 10.8 percent increase over the current year. This money is used for daily operating costs, including salaries, transportation, utilities and supplies.

Teaching makes up 64 percent of all expenditures within the general budget, the same as in the current year. District administrative services such as human resources, finance, data processing and mail couriers account for 2.9 percent of the budget, down slightly from 3 percent.

The public is invited to review the budget at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 and offer additional comment, after which the board will vote.

In other action Tuesday, the board:

Named Monica Ilse principal of Irvin Educational Center in Dade City. Ilse has been assistant principal at Wesley Chapel High since 2001. She started in the district in 1997 as a guidance counselor at Land O'Lakes High. Ilse replaces Jim Davis, who was promoted last week to oversee all district high schools.

Approved general management contracts with five firms to oversee the construction of four elementary schools and one middle school, all pegged to open in August 2006.

Cutler Associates will manage building of the new elementary school off State Road 52 in the Gulf Highlands area in west Pasco; A.D. Morgan Corp. will oversee the new Wesley Chapel elementary construction; Creative Contractors will be in charge of the new Trinity Oaks elementary; Waldridge-Aldinger Corp. will begin work on the Oakstead area elementary in Land O'Lakes; and H.C. Beck will manage work on a new Wesley Chapel middle school.

Each of the companies received $5-million to get started on the work. The school district expects to finalize construction cost contracts Sept. 20.

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 01:05:20]