Bowling Green Schools Anticipate Budget Surplus for 2025

News Summary

The Bowling Green Independent School District has announced a projected budget surplus of $1.2 million for the General Fund in the 2025 fiscal year. This was revealed during a board meeting on January 19, 2025, as the draft budget was approved. While the surplus brings some positivity, financial challenges remain, particularly regarding inflation and potential salary increases. The district is also looking forward to a 7% growth in student attendance, which could further affect future budgeting and expenditures.

Bowling Green Schools Set for Budget Surplus in 2025 Amid Challenges

The Bowling Green Independent School District (BGISD) is kicking off the new year with some promising news: a projected net surplus of $1.2 million for the General Fund and about $276,500 in food service for the 2025 fiscal year! This peek into the financial future was revealed when the draft budget was approved by the BGISD Board of Education on January 19, 2025. It’s an exciting time for education in the city, but there are still some bumps on the road to navigate.

A Step in the Right Direction

This draft budget is an initial forecast that will pave the way for a formal tentative budget slated for preparation in April. Unlike the previous year’s budget, which accounted for various unpredictable factors, this year’s projection includes confirmed funding sourced from the state’s General Assembly through the SEEK program, which stands for Support Education Excellence in Kentucky. Some good news here—Director of Finance Shaunna Cornwell has estimated a 6% increase in SEEK funding. This is a significant boost, with funding per student rising from $4,326 to $4,586 next year!

Keeping Staff Salaries in Check

Yet, even with this surplus, Cornwell has cautioned against planning any big salary increases for district employees. The potential for a modest 1% salary increase alone would amount to around $430,000, and even a 2% raise would be out of reach with the current budget outlook. Economic pressures remain, putting a damper on salary enhancements this year.

Inflation Woes

Another hurdle in the district’s financial planning is the nagging issue of inflation. Cornwell has predicted an inflation rate hovering between 2.5% and 5% for the upcoming year. According to recent reports, inflation was reported at 2.9% last year. This soaring inflation has hit BGISD hard, especially in food costs, which have seen a staggering increase of 16%.

Attendance Growth—A Silver Lining?

On a brighter note, the draft budget includes an anticipated 7% growth in average daily attendance, boosting enrollment from 4,201 students to 4,495. This influx in students could lead to future adjustments in staffing and expenditures, which, at the end of the day, could benefit the student body.

Future Funding and Expenditures

But it’s essential to keep context in mind. The actual spending per pupil is forecasted at approximately $21,247, a number that can be somewhat misleading since it includes non-instructional expenses. When looking strictly at instructional funding, about $8,804 will come from the General Fund, with $4,731.82 allocated specifically for general instruction.

Efforts to Support Students

The budget also highlights that approximately $1,435.23 per student from restricted grant funding is aimed at providing academic support for low-income students, which is a fantastic move in promoting equity in education.

Community Developments and Public Service Budgets

$13.05 million for 2025, reflecting a notable increase from last year. This bump in funding is primarily due to vehicle inspection fee hikes and the county’s rapid population growth. Plans are afoot to add two more deputies to the current staff of 115 and upgrade a part-time position, which should enhance public safety services significantly.

As Bowling Green looks ahead, it’s clear that while challenges persist, the combined efforts of educational and public service entities aim to make progress in delivering better services to the community. Stay tuned for more updates as these budgets take shape and the city continues to evolve!

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Additional Resources

• WBKO: Bowling Green Sees an Increase in City Budget for 2025 Fiscal Year
• Sentinel-Tribune: BG Had a Very Successful 2025
• BG Daily News: Sheriff’s Office Budget for 2025
• Mahoning Matters: Local Budget News
• Ohio Capital Journal: Public Colleges Receive Funding
• Wikipedia: Budget
• Google Search: Bowling Green budget 2025
• Google Scholar: Bowling Green Fiscal Year 2025
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Budget
• Google News: Bowling Green 2025 budget