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Pettisville Schools Get More Money From State




The Pettisville Local School District will receive an increase of about $300,000 in state funding, school board members were told.

In his report to the board at the Monday, Oct. 12 meeting, Steve Switzer, superintendent, said Pettisville will gain an estimated $300,000 in state aid this year over last year.

“This is the first real increase in state aid since 2009,” he said.

Originally the district was projected for an even larger increase, but that was changed due mainly to two factors: an increase in district property tax valuation and a decrease in enrollment.

Figures show district enrollment stands at 510 for K-12 students, down 16 students from last year and down nearly 50 from six years ago.

Switzer said the majority of the drop is in residential enrollment. Open enrollment figures are holding steady.

Chris Lee, district treasurer, submitted the five-year financial forecast for the district, which showed a mostly positive financial picture.

Lee’s forecast showed the district with a positive cash flow for the next four years, with the possibility of a small deficit in the fifth year.

“I don’t remember ever seeing a forecast with a positive cash flow for four out of the five years,” Switzer said.

In discussing the financial picture with the board and explaining the fiscal process to incoming board member Brent King, who attended the meeting, Lee said the forecast is submitted to the state so it can monitor the fi- nancial health of the district.

“The state can then declare a district to be in a state of fiscal caution, fiscal watch, or fiscal emergency,” Lee said.

“Fortunately, we have never been in any of those situations,” Lee said.–D.J. Neuenschwander



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