AISD budget, tax rate to be adopted Aug. 31

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD’s board of trustees set a date for a special meeting to adopt the 2020-2021 budget and tax rate during a regular session on Monday, Aug. 17.

The board plans an early morning meeting on Monday, Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be adopted, according to state law.

Budget Projections

Board members met for an hour with AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott and business manager Angelyn Faith to review expenditures in the current budget, look at projections for the 2020-2021 budget, and discuss both immediate and future needs.

Expenditures for the upcoming school year are projected to be $6,390,959, compared to the actual expenses so far of just under $5.7 million.

Revenue for the year is expected to be $5,985,756.

At the end of the workshop portion of the meeting, board president Robert Montgomery commented that the district “is on borrowed time” with aging buses and other school vehicles, and a plan needs to be developed to include new vehicles in the near future.

The proposed tax rate of 96.64 cents is the highest allowed by the state and is slightly less than last year’s 97-cent rate, also arbitrated by the state.

Other Business

•The board accepted a proposal for property and casualty insurance from the Public Educators Association of Texas, with the one-year policy term beginning Sept. 1.

•A list of 31 transfer students, almost all of whom attended AISD last year, was approved.

•Scott noted two updates, both concerning conflict of interest, in the district’s business procedure manual.

•The board election for places 1 and 2 was re-set for Nov. 3.

•The superintendent reported that Deloris Londerholm and Audrey Peterson will both work as part-time nurses during the school year.

•A camera system to livestream football and volleyball games is being purchased, with a donor contributing the $2,500 cost of two cameras. Fans can log in for a $70 annual subscription.