As the Snoqualmie Valley School District readies its 2016-17 budget for school board approval, the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed $78 million budget at the beginning of the Thursday, July 14th school board meeting.
The 2016-17 budget increased almost 10% over last year, and will be covered by (mainly) by increased state funding for an expected enrollment jump in the fast growing Snoqualmie Valley – estimated to be about 2% in the coming school year. The state is also contributing $2.6 million to fund mandated full day kindergarten and K-3 class size reductions.
It total, the district is receiving about $6 million more in state funding this year. The rest of the revenue growth comes from a voter-approved levy increase and additional federal funding.
Enrollment growth, added kindergarten programming and smaller K-3 class size also means the district will have more expenditures, as it needs to hire more teachers and classified staff.
The district will spend about $4.3 million more this year for additional staff and benefits, and another estimated $1.1 million attributed to a Teachers Union settlement, presumably related to a recently negotiated financial package in the new three-year SVEA union contract that teachers will be asked to approve in August.
The School Board Meeting and Public Hearing on the Proposed 2016-17 Budget starts at 6:30PM at Snoqualmie City Hall, 38624 River Street.
You can see the detailed 2016-17 SVSD Budget HERE and a Budget Summary HERE.
