Southwest Dubois Schools: Budget hearing and bus purchases

The Southwest Dubois School Board of Trustees held their annual budget hearings during Thursday night’s meeting.

Three separate hearings were conducted on the 2017 budgets — general fund, capital projects fund and bus replacement fund — with no one present to remonstrate.

The total proposed budget amount is $21,620, 062.00 with an advertised tax rate of $2.2652.

The Department of Local Government Finance will consider the budget for approval and set the tax rate in several weeks.

“We’re in good shape and we feel like we’ll be okay once the budget comes through,” said Superintendent Mike Eineman.

Eineman reports that in next year’s budget two buses are being planned for purchase. The new buses will be mini-buses instead of one large one; he explained the price for the two buses will be the same as one large bus.

Of the older buses in their fleet, he said, “A couple of them are getting in bad shape and…we can’t send them out on long trips.”

Buses that are older than 12 years in service have to be inspected by the Indiana State Police twice per year, instead of once for the newer vehicles.

Also last night, Eineman reported that the Southwest School System student population is down 10 to 15 students from last year’s numbers.

He says that being down 10 students means a negative impact of around $50,000.00. But, he said that they’ve made contingency plans for the lower income. “We will be okay,” said Eineman.