WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– The Vigo County School Board unveiled a $165,800,000 budget proposal earlier this week– and now, they hope to hear the community’s thoughts before they approve it next month.
The budget is now being advertised, giving residents a chance to see details ahead of a Oct. 9th board meeting where it will be discussed. It falls about $3 million short of the advertised budget for 2023. Here are some of the details:
- $103.5 million in the education fund, which is set by the state to help pay personnel
- $42.8 million in the operations fund
- $11.1 million in the debt service fund
- $8.4 million in the referendum fund, which runs through 2027
VCSC School Board President Amy Lore recognized it’s an eye-popping number, but said it’s necessary for the corporation– which serves around 13,500 students– to function.
“We have a large operating budget, and that’s because we have a lot of people working for us,” Lore said. “We have a lot to maintain, and that includes your HVAC, that includes parking lots, that includes working on many, many facilities that need upgrades. It includes feeding our students and transporting them.”
Lore encouraged community members to provide feedback, either in person next month, or by email.
“We wanted to give folks a chance to look at it, at our [Oct. 9th] board meeting, we’re taking public comment and the budget book will be there in hard copy form for folks to come and look through, and if there are concerns that are raised we will definitely address them,” she said.
The board will officially vote on the proposal Oct. 23rd, and Lore said she sees resident feedback as a vital part of the process over the next month.
“It’s essential. The reason why our meetings are public is so the public can see what we’re doing and what we’re talking about,” she said. “That’s us doing the work we were elected to do as board members. To make sure that the money is being spent with fidelity.”
