Columbia Public School officials work to finalize 2016-2017 budget

Columbia School Board members met Wednesday afternoon for a public hearing to discuss the upcoming school year budget.

In April, voters approved a 65-cent tax levy and $30 million dollar bond issue. The tax levy is expected to generate about $14.6 million.

CPS officials said all of that new money isn’t needed for the 2016-2017 school year.

Linda Quinley, Chief Financial Officer, said they asked residents for a higher property tax increase in April so the district wouldn’t have to ask for more money for the next several years.

“It is our goal to live off what the voters authorized us for many years to come,” Quinley said. “Our board actually looks at everything in a five-year model, and this model is built to sustain us for five years or more.”

Approximately $6.8 million dollars is budgeted for improving teacher pay and benefits.

“Our public cares greatly about quality teachers and quality staff in the building, so we’re certainly going to focus there. And they want opportunities for their kids, so they want us to have plenty of things for them to do before school and after school so money is going into those as well.”

Quinley said the district is budgeting $206 million dollars in operating costs for the 2016-2017 school year, which is an increase of about $15 million from the previous school year.

The district is planning to spend $16 million dollars more on items like ground maintenance, transportation and safety.

Next school year, CPS will have to pay more per hour for off duty Columbia Police officers for security at events.

A final budget is due by the end of June. Quinley said the board is hoping to a approve a final budget by June 13.