Salem Elementary board reviews tentative budget
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By DENNIS ROSENBERGER
stceditor@salemtc.net
The Salem Elementary School District Board of Education reviewed the tentative budget for the FY 2026 fiscal year on Thursday, Aug. 21, with budget estimates projecting a significant deficit balance for the year.
Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe reported that across the various operating funds for FY 2026, the overall deficit in the tentative figures stands at just under $1.3 million, with revenue projected at $11,894,276 against expenses of $13,185,644.
Of that total deficit, Foppe noted that the largest part comes from the Education Fund, which shows a projected deficit of $845,000 for the year.
Foppe noted that in preparing the budget, she always uses conservative estimates on revenue.
“I’m hoping it is better, but I don’t want to inflate numbers,” said Foppe. “I would rather err on the side of caution and then be pleasantly surprised.”
She noted that the rising cost of employee insurance is one of the biggest factors in the gap between revenue and expenditures.
“That’s one of our biggest costs that’s causing our expenditures to increase,” Foppe explained.
Foppe explained that as more information comes in over the next month, more solid revenue estimates will be worked into the budget figures prior to final approval.
“I will be working with this all month until the September meeting and I will have the budget to present at that time with final numbers,” she said.
Foppe noted that the district enters the new fiscal year with reserves of around $5.6 million to cover any shortfall that does remain at the end of the year.
A budget hearing will be held prior to the next board meeting on Monday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m., with the regular meeting to follow, where the final FY 2026 budget will be approved.
In other business:
• The board accepted the retirement of Mike Bookhout as custodian, effective in October.
• The board also approved the employment of Cassidy Jeffords as a paraprofessional and Ron Bryan as part-time custodian.
