IRON MOUNTAIN – The Iron Mountain School Board has approved a preliminary 2020-21 budget and tax levy that keeps the tax rate level.

The budget has a proposed tax rate of 17.937 mills, or $17.94 per $1,000 in taxable property value, the same as in 2019. Total revenues are budgeted at $7,668,494, with $1,757,260 from local sources, $4,714,812 from state aid, $450,998 in federal aid and $373,000 from other sources, including $100,000 from the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools.

Superintendent Jerry Sardina commended Community Schools Administrator Julie Wonders for helping the district during a finance committee meeting held prior to the regular meeting. “Given all the speculation, cuts to student enrollment, cuts to funding, we were looking at a number above the $500,000 mark as far as having to balance this budget, I just want to thank Julie and her program.” Because she manages her budget well, “it makes it possible for her to help the school districts.”

The projected fund balance would be $488,000.

Total expenditures are estimated at $7,259,015, with $4,409,915 for instructional costs. Other expenditures include $434,201 for pupil support, $240,759 for instructional staff support, $290,977 for general administration, $361,485 for school administration, $163,815 for business services, $603,631 in operations and maintenance, $176,744 for transportation and $455,744 for other support.

Reductions from the current year include $35,000 less in maintenance costs, $35,000 in repairs, $58,000 for health insurance, $16,000 for library.

The budget figures are based on an anticipated pupil count of 694 and an assumption the district will receive $650 less in state aid per student, according to school officials. If aid is less than that, officials offered several options available to lower expenditures, such as cutting educational aides.

The board will meet June 29 to approve the final revisions to the 2019-20 budget.

In other business, the board:

– Approved Bridget DeYoung’s resignation and hired Marcus Celello as a middle school/high school English/social studies teacher.

– Hired Thomas Jayne as a full-time community schools alternative education teacher.

– Accepted resignations from Bonnie Greenleaf as middle school robotics coach; Aaron Scott as high school robotics coach; Michelle Van DenHeuvel as food service worker; and Michelle Herman as high school honor society advisor and middle school yearbook advisor.