3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017 Seaside schools poised to launch K-12 building plan Budget infused by bond approval By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian SEASIDE — The Seaside School District finds itself on solid ground as it launches a K-12 building project. Members of the Seaside School District budget com- mittee, along with the school’s board of directors and admin- istrator reviewed the proposed $20.6 million operating bud- get for next fiscal year before Tuesday night’s regular board meeting. “I do feel good about it,” Superintendent Sheila Roley said about the proposed bud- get. “We have had a few years in the past decade where we’ve had to hold steady or even reduce.” The school district’s finan- cial summary included break- downs for general fund, debt service, special revenue and capital projects. Proposed general fund rev- enues are 9.5 percent higher than this year’s budget. “An improving Oregon economy, timber revenue and excellent management will allow us to move forward without reductions in staffing or programs and with some modest additions,” Roley wrote in a budget message pre- sented by Business Manager Justine Hill. The school district plans to hire an elementary school guidance counselor and a new high school science and math teacher, among other person- nel additions. The budget addresses rising student technology costs, with districtwide licenses for math and science software. An additional $112 million capital budget for construction of the new K-12 campus — including $4 million from the state — was also presented for review. The district anticipates pay- ing out $22.5 million next year toward the project, endorsed by voters in November, Hill said. This includes costs for architects, project manager, geotechnical engineering, site work, civil engineers and sur- veying firms, among other expenses. The bond’s capital fund balance will reach almost $90 million by June 2018, Hill said. Pension costs Proposed increases in dis- trict expenditures come with new hires, software licensing fees and employee benefits. All employee groups are scheduled to receive 2.5 per- cent salary increases with regular step increases when applicable. Public Employees Retire- ment System rates will see an increase in July with a need for additional higher contri- butions. Under the proposed budget, the district’s contri- bution rate will increase from 11.76 percent to 16.64 percent for older employees — about a 4.88 percent year-to-year increase. The district’s contribution to employees participating in the state’s public retirement plan will increase from 7.07 to 11.31 percent. “Our budgeted PERS rate increases, including the cost of both those funds, are slated to cost the district about $473,000,” Hill said. ALEKS, a math software program, will cost the district $20,000, Hill said. Total costs for Microsoft licenses for students could reach $6,000, she added. The school district allo- cated $250,000 to the new Cannon Beach Academy, which requires an enroll- ment of 34 students to open in September. While enrollment is “pick- ing up,” Roley said, numbers Light Up the Night must be determined by May 1. Savings, revenue Savings under the proposed document come from lower maintenance costs at older school buildings — Broadway Middle School, Gearhart Ele- mentary School and Seaside High School — as the district transitions to the new campus adjacent to Seaside Heights Elementary School. Reductions will also come with lower budgeted mainte- nance costs at Seaside High School, Gearhart Elementary and Broadway Middle School. Potential revenue from the sale of the older buildings is not included in this year’s bud- get package. The district received $1.8 million in timber revenues in 2015-16, with $1.5 million expected this year, Hill said. The lowered estimate comes as a result of fluctu- ations in the industry and changing harvest timelines, she added. On May 16, the budget returns before the committee, with an opportunity for addi- tional public input. A budget must be delivered by June 30. “Sometimes the committee is ready to adopt at the May meeting, sometimes at the June meeting,” Roley said. Submitted Photo People display their pledge signs as they marched down Commercial Street and the Astoria Riverwalk and during The Harbor’s Light Up the Night Walk in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month Tuesday evening. 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