By Rupert Howell
The 2017 budget for South Panola School District tentatively looks to be $45,645,493 following a public hearing last Tuesday where there were no others in attendance beside school officials and the trustee board.
District Financial Director David Rubenstein discussed revenues and expenditures revealing 25.55 percent of the budget will be funded through local tax millage amounting to approximately $10,725,000.
The total budget averages $10,281 per student or $9,179 if construction, acquisitions, debt service, 16th Section contributions—items which vary from district to district, are omitted. South Panola has a student population of 4,387 with six schools ranging from 534 at Pope School’s K-8 to 1,123 at South Panola High School’s 9-12 grades.
The lion’s share of $45,645,493 in expenses goes to salaries and benefits to the tune of $31.5 million.
Other comments pertaining to the proposed budget included a $900,000 donation from South Mississippi Electric Power Association, the addition of 11 teacher positions within the district and the exclusion of five new buses (a proposed idea that came about after trustees had to purchase approximately 20 busses to upgrade an aging fleet).
Rubenstein also noted the district’s administrative cost was approximately 2.5 percent of budget, stating it was among the lowest in the state, noting the state average is 3.44 percent.
The budget’s final adoption is set for a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 29.