The Friendswood ISD board of trustees convened its monthly regular meeting on August 14. Here are a few highlights from the meeting.
- FISD trustees approved the 2017-18 school year budget
The Friendswood ISD school board approved the district's budget, which includes the general fund, debt service fund and food service fund budgets, for the 2017-18 school year. The general fund budget is used for general district maintenance and operation, from teacher salaries to building utilities, and it was approved at $49.95 million, which is a $2 million increase over last year's general fund budget. The district's projected debt service fund revenue is $7 million, but expenditures for the 2017-18 school year will exceed revenues by $17,850. And food service expenditures are expected to be $2.37 million.
- Trustees approved the tax rate for the 2017-18 school year
This year, the board lowered its debt service tax rate by two cents, resulting in an interest and sinking tax rate of $0.237. The maintenance and operation tax rate of $1.13 is the same as last year, resulting in a total of tax rate of $1.367 per $100 valuation. I&S taxes pay for bonds and other debt obligations. M&O taxes are put in the general fund to pay for district operations.
Last year, voters approved raising the M&O tax rate to $1.13, which was a nine cent increase over its previous $1.04 cent rate. But FISD trustees lowered the district's I&S tax rate by seven cents last year, so residents only experienced a two cent increase in the district's cumulative tax rate.
“It was great to able to come back a year later and decrease the tax rate back to where it was before the [tax ratification election],” said Connie Morgenroth, assistant superintendent of business and operations.
- Amber Petree appointed as new director of finance
In July, Connie Morgenroth was
named the new assistant superintendent of business and operations, leaving the position of Chief Financial Officer vacant. The FISD board restructured the CFO position and relabeled it the director of finance. Amber Petree was appointed as the director of finance at the August meeting. Petree has 15 years of accounting experience and has served the past six and a half years as the school district’s accounting manager.
