BR scores clean audit

BY STACI WILSON

The Blue Ridge School District received a “clean” audit for 2014 but auditor Michael Dougherty warned board members Monday night of how pension increases and cafeteria costs could affect the bottom line in the future.

Dougherty gave the board a brief overview of the audit at a workshop meeting held Monday, Jan. 27.
Now at 21 percent, the pension contribution will grow over the coming years to about 30 percent, Dougherty said. The district has a committed fund of about $2.6 million to handle the increases and help keep property tax increases as minimal as possible.

The district’s food service fund ended with a balance of $155,000, its revenue down by $58,000. Dougherty said he is seeing “a lot of district struggle with food service.”

Historically, Blue Ridge’s cafeteria has been self-funding. That could change, Dougherty said if it continues to lose money.

He said the rising costs, along with flat sales, the district may need to look at bolstering the cafeteria revenue from the general fund.

In other business, board members reviewed the agenda items to be presented at the Tuesday, Feb. 3 business meeting; and set meeting times for various board committees.

The 2015-16 budget planning process has already started, according to Superintendent Robert McTiernan. Board members received departmental budgets for their review.

Board President Laurie Bonner said the teachers’ union and the board will meet on Feb. 18 for contract negotiations.

There are three candidates to be interviewed for the district’s business manager position.

The board also discussed policy changes, including one that would allow for audio recordings on school buses, as now allowed by law.

There was also discussion about updates to required background record checks for district volunteers; finding a substitute for high school level Spanish language classes; and the possible utilization of a three-hour delay.

The board will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m., in the elementary school cafeteria.