Community invited to help rank budget priorities

Community invited to help rank budget priorities

Three meetings have been scheduled for community members to give input to the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 Board of Education on the priorities for spending a portion of the district’s budget reserve.

Each meeting will include an overview of the current budget situation.  The proposed budget changes will have an impact on Sioux Trail and I encourage you to be a part of this process. Then, participants will meet in small groups to review and prioritize a list of about 15 possible add-ins that the Board could make.

On May 5, the Board will receive an initial budget from Superintendent Randy Clegg based on projected state funding for the 2011-12 school year. Board members have the option to use a portion of the district’s $8 million reserve to add back some items, so they are seeking input on what priorities should be. The Board has used budget reserves of about $3 million a year for the past two years to balance the budget in light of zero increases in state aid, which provides about 80% of the district’s revenue.

Public meetings will take place:

• Monday, May 9, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Burnsville City Hall (lower level), 100 Civic Center Parkway;
• Tuesday, May 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Cedar School, 2140 Diffley Drive, Eagan;
• Wednesday, May 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Savage City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive.

A survey will be available on the district website at www.isd191.org in early May. Input is also being gathered from employees. Please call the district office 952.707.2000 or Sioux Trail  at 952.707.3300 with questions.