Fulton Public Schools approves fiscal year 2023 budget

A school sign and flag poles stand outside Fulton High School in Fulton, Mo. (Fulton Sun file photo)
A school sign and flag poles stand outside Fulton High School in Fulton, Mo. (Fulton Sun file photo)


Fulton 58 Public School District approved the fiscal year 2023 budget during Wednesday's board of education meeting.

The board approved the budget with anticipated operating revenues of $25,746,918 and anticipated total expenditures of $25,892,691 as developed by the FPS staff.

Jennifer Milligan, director of finance at FPS, said although the current budget includes a deficit of $145,773, it is a conservative estimation for the upcoming school year.

Many variables will contribute to the outcome of the fiscal year and the district's goal of a quarterly budget amendment review will help keep the community and board of education aware of the district's financial position, she said.

District expenditure priorities were centered on staffing and included operating all salary schedules, increasing the teacher's base salary to $37,500, implementing the final adjustment for minimum wage in Missouri, increasing professional development opportunities, adding one full-time teacher and one aide for an alternative classroom at Fulton High School.

Salaries and benefits represent 80 percent of the district's operating budget in 2022-23.

Creating the 2022-23 school year budget relied on district staff and administration, historical data and future projections to achieve an appropriate budget that prioritized the district's financial objectives with its strategic plan, Mulligan said.

The district will continue to watch finances and see where they are in six months, said Ty Crain, superintendent of Fulton Public School District. He said while there are a lot of unknowns, the district is still trying to be very transparent.

"We want to be as transparent as we can where we're in a good place," Crain said.