By VIRGINIA GIORGIS

Pioneer Editor



Uinta County School District 4 approved the 2011 fiscal year budget of $12,943,116 at their public hearing on July 21.

As the budget hearing is required by state law to be the third Wednesday in July, the board combined their monthly meeting with the hearing.

The major portion of the budget—$10,858,451—falls into the general fund according to Superintendent Jeff Newton. This money is the block grant funding the state provides the district for operation. Another breakdown of the budget is the funding for federal projects of $801,500. Of this $665,000 comes from grant funds and the governments ARA funds.

The rest of the funding is broken down through the scope of the operation of the district.

Of major importance this year is the Capital Projects fund. According to Newton, there is only $15,660 in the fund “but it soon will be a lot bigger, $20 million bigger.” This was in reference to the new K-8 building the district will build. The item has been on the agenda for months, but no information has been given at the meetings. The board always addressed this issue in executive session.

However, the district was given the approval and the funding for a new building during the last legislature the first part of this year. There was an unsuccessful push to fund some of the other projects and then let Mountain View come back in for funding when they were ready for the actual construction.

Other districts throughout the state had urged the state to take the $20 million from Mountain View even though it was number one on the list for funding by the state department. Their logic was Mountain View was not ready to start actual construction and other districts were ready.

During the regular meeting, the board approved the agreements such as transportation services provided by Covolo Auto, the fees for the Wyoming High School Activities Association, extended service contracts for different teachers, and other items, which affect the day-to-day operation of the district.

The board also approved the purchase of two software programs for $80,091, which will be utilized in the district to assist students who are deemed “non-proficient” in their reading ability.

For the complete article see the 07-30-2010 issue.

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