The Bond County Unit 2 School board voted down a second proposed budget at this week’s special board meeting. At the regular board meeting last week the board voted down the first proposed budget in a 3-4 vote. That budget was trimmed by around $134,000, but still showed a deficit for fiscal year 2015 of just over 1 million dollars.
This week’s vote was 3-3 with Jay Young, Nate Prater and Edmar Schreiber voting “yes” and Vance Daniken, Mike Timmerman and James Jackson voting “no”.
Approximately $275,000 of the shortfall is due to property assessment issues, and it’s possible that money may be recouped by Bond County through the county’s errors and omissions insurance coverage. A claim has been filed by the Bond County Board. If that money is received it would make up about 25% of the budget shortfall, but that’s not guaranteed.
From the short discussion held before the board went into executive session it seemed clear that a quick resolution to passing a budget is not likely.
Superintendent Jeff Strieker told WGEL Radio that the finance committee will likely meet again soon and try to work further on next year’s budget.
