Wichita school district’s ‘Budget at a Glance’ available for viewing

The Wichita school district has posted its “Budget at a Glance,” an 11-page document that details proposed expenditures in various categories.

A complete copy of the $683.8 million budget, which school board members voted to publish in advance of a public hearing, will be posted next week, a spokeswoman said. In the meantime, patrons wanting copies of the budget can get one for free at the district finance office in the Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center, 201 N. Water.

The public hearing on the budget is set for Aug. 25, the same evening board members plan to approve it. The district will send it to county and state officials the following day, said Jim Freeman, chief financial officer.

To see the “Budget at a Glance,” go to http://finance.usd259.org/ and click on “State Budget Forms.”

The proposed 2014-15 budget, about $40 million more than last year’s, lowers the local property tax rate, projects an enrollment increase of 300 students and includes a 2 percent raise for teachers and other employees.

The school district’s budget is the largest of any local government entity and gets the largest share of local taxpayer dollars. Sedgwick County commissioners approved their $421 million budget Wednesday; Wichita City Council members approved their budget, which totals about $577 million, on Tuesday.

The school district’s total mill levy would decrease from 57.2 mills to 53.6 mills, a savings of about $41 a year on a house that is valued at $100,000.

This story was originally published August 16, 2014 at 7:15 AM with the headline "Wichita school district’s ‘Budget at a Glance’ available for viewing."