SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES BUDGET

THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BOARD HAS CUT 25 AND A HALF POSITIONS IN FINALIZING NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

THE BOARD VOTED 4 TO 3 ON OPTION "H" WHICH ELIMINATES POSITIONS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY TWO YEAR FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS.

BOARD PRESIDENT DOUG BATCHELLER WAS AMONG THE MINORITY WHO VOTED AGAINST THE OPTION:

TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY THE SCHOOL BOARD COULD LEGALLY PASS A BUDGET BY STATE LAW.

SUPERINTENDENT PAUL GAUSMAN SAYS THE PROCESS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS YET TO PASS A SCHOOL FUNDING PACKAGE SO THE DISTRICT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT STATE DOLLARS ARE COMING NEXT YEAR:

THE TAX LEVY IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF PROPERTY TAX ROLLBACK CHANGES, TAXPAYERS WILL SEE ABOUT A 48 DOLLAR TAX INCREASE IN THE COMING YEAR ON A 105-THOUSAND DOLLAR HOME.