COLUMBUS JCT., Iowa — Projections for several Columbus School District funds show positive cash balances at the end of the current fiscal year, according to budget reports reviewed by the Columbus School Board during a special work session Monday. 

According to the reports, which were developed by school officials, the school’s Management, Physical Plant and Equipment (PPEL) and School Infrastructure Local Option (SILO) Funds all show enough revenue to handle expenditures planned for 2006-07 and proposed in the near future.

The school’s management fund showed a beginning balance of $57,800 and projected an  ending balance of $67,900 for this fiscal year.

The district’s PPEL Fund is also projected to have a small balance at the end of the 2007 fiscal year.

The fund began the year with a beginning balance of $11,551 and is anticipating revenue of $181,511. The $193,062 in total revenue will fund the acquisition of copiers ($18,000), installation of a swimming pool fence ($10,000), construction of a canopy at the high school ($36,000) and the final payment toward the middle school air conditioner project ($36,000). An $82,175 payment will also go towards the second loan payment to a federal program that was used in 2004 to help finance the school’s $3 million geothermal system.

The largest pool of money available to the district will be the SILO (school infrastructure local option tax)  fund, which is projected to have total revenue of $751,99 this fiscal year.

The fund is expected to provide financial support for at least 12 projects, with another nine projects proposed for funding. Included in the list of 2006-07 expenditures is:

The second year of a 10-year revenue bond payment plan for the geothermal system ($133,208)

 The second year of five years for new high school lockers ($9,315)

A $92,387 payment for the middle school air conditioning project

 $47,151 for roof repairs

 $10,017 for high school door replacements

 $14,797 for electrical work that will be completed to meet concerns of the state fire marshal.

Smaller expenditures for middle school ceiling and assistant principal office renovations, fire alarm parts, door repairs, carpeting and paint are also planned  for 2006-07. The total SILO fund spending will be $323,774.

Officials also identified several proposed expenditures using the 2006-07 SILO fund.

Technology upgrades totaling $136,000 would be the largest spending category, followed by $133,000 for roof repairs to the middle/high school.

 An additional $11,000 in spending would also be proposed for high school lockers. 

Two other major spending proposals would include $10,000 for repairs of the middle/high school restroom, as the first year of a six-year program, and $10,000 for a new wrestling mat.

Other proposed expenditures would include relocation of the old high school canopy to the art complex, middle school window blockage, installation of a new baseball backstop fence and installing a fence on the top of the bath house.

The total of the proposed expenditures would be $309,550. Combined, the planned and proposed spending from the SILO fund in 2006-07 would total $633,324, leaving a potential balance of $118,673 in the SILO Fund.

The School Board is expended to take action on some of the proposed spending at its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 16.

Contact Jim Rudisill at: 319-523-2213

or  jimrudisill@yahoo.com