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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
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