Edgar school district faces budget deficit

Edgar School District will run a $496,000 annual budget deficit within two years, school administrator Dr. Cari Guden said at a community meeting held last week Monday.

She said the district will operate $80,000 in the red this school year. That amount will triple to a projected $258,000 in 2021-22 and then double to nearly half a million dollars by the following year.

Guden said the Edgar Board of Education tried to avoid the deficits with a February 2020 referendum that failed. The district asked for a phased-in $650,000 recurring addition to its revenue limit. The referendum steps were $150,000 in a first year, $250,000 added in a second year and an additional $250,000 in a third year.

The administrator said the school district has skimped on staff and supplies to try and balance the budget. Since 2013, the district has cut five and one half teachers (technology education, business education, elementary school and art), reduced summer school pay, not increased staff pay Edgar

to competitive levels, minimized maintenance and cut a part-time position in the bookkeeper’s office.

Going forward, Guden said, staff reductions, cuts to athletics and cocurricular activities, having largersized classes, increasing student fees and cutting staff may all be needed to reduce district spending.

The administrator said the school board is currently eyeing an April 13 referendum to try and raise taxes for the school district.

A board vote to schedule a referendum must be approved by Jan. 22, 2021.

Edgar School District passed its first revenue cap referendum for $150,000 a year in 2001. It passed a second revenue cap referendum for $300,000 a year in 2005.