MANDATA - The Line Mountain School Board is displaying the first edition of its 2012-13 preliminary budget with a $1,147,617 deficit.
"Last year, we started out $2.2 million in the hole, so we're better off than that from the start," Superintendent Dave Campbell said at the regular board meeting Tuesday night.
Business Manager Phil Rapant presented the budget to the board with expenditures totaling $17,869,339 and total revenue of $16,748,722.
Salaries increased $214,000 as well as other contributions: Social Security $14,400, retirement $289,000, medical insurance $568,000, life insurance/workman's compensation and unemployment $18,700. Department budgets increased $85,000 total.
Rapant told the board there was no revenue increase from the state, but if the state provides more than last year, the budget might fare a little better.
Campbell said state Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) and other local legislators would likely be "fighting hard" for increased state contributions to area school districts.
Because this is a preliminary budget, most of the figures are expected to change.
In other business
Josh Bower, Line Mountain project manager representing Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh and Associates Architects, showed the building plans for both an elementary addition to the existing high school or a separate building in Mandata.
If the board chooses an addition, it would be cheaper, because the students can share gymnasium, cafeteria and other spaces, Bower said.
The board approved a bus study for both options and will likely make their decision in January.
During the re-organizational meeting before the regular meeting, President Troy Laudenslager and Vice President Dennis Erdman retained their positions, Director Larry Neidig was re-appointed Pennsylvania School Boards Association legislative representative and directors David Bartholomew and Erdman were re-appointed vo-tech representatives.
Newly-elected board member Marlin Yeager Jr., who replaces director Charles Sample, was also sworn into his position Tuesday night.