By Nancy Whitney

Staff Writer

[email protected]

With a new school scheduled to open in 2016, improvements at every campus, and additional employees being added, a budget workshop was held May 18.

Wylie ISD Chief Financial Officer Michelle Trongaard met with various school officials to discuss the 2015-’16 proposed budget.

The meeting was held at Wylie East High School prior to their regularly scheduled school board meeting.

Budgeted revenue for 2015-’16 is $111,557,013 up from $106,993,088 in 2014-‘15. Of the 2015-’16 budgeted revenues, $47.5 million will be generated from property taxes and $57 million from state aid. The remaining is funded through the Texas Retirement System, local sources, and deferral revenues.

Expenditures for 2015-’16 are projected at $111,557,013, with payroll consuming the majority of expenditures at $89,790,171, TRS on-behalf at $4,928,180, contracted services at $7,271,581. The remaining amount includes costs for supplies and materials, miscellaneous operating expenses, debt service and capital outlay.

Wylie ISD, much like last year, has conservatively set their property value increase to 7 percent, allowing for a rise of $2,478,418 in revenues.

The total number of students is estimated to rise by 268 for a total of 14,307 students. A 3 percent midpoint increase will be given to all employees and 14 new teaching positions will be added. There will be no tax rate increase or decrease, numbers are expected to remain at $1.17 M&O and $.47 I&S. Additionally, a $500 stipend will be given pending property values are above 7 percent and/or enrollment above 14,307.

Base salaries for employees with no experience is increasing from $48,283 last year to $49,958 for 2015-’16.

Meal prices will see a change of 2 to 3 percent. At elementary and intermediate schools, the price will rise from $2.30 to $2.40. Junior high and high school prices will remain the same at $2.50 and $2.75 respectively.

Those interested in learning more about the 2015-’16 budget can attend the June 15 school board meeting where a budget hearing will be presented to approve the budget.

School board officials will adopt the tax rate during the August 17 regularly scheduled meeting.