10/25/12 - The Howell School Board got a positive audit report for its 2011-2012 budget on Monday, and candidates for school board disagree on what it indicates for the election. There are seven candidates competing for a total of four seats on the board in November. Six of them have divided into separate slates, with three on the âexperienced, dedicated, readyâ slate and three on the âfiscal conservativeâ slate. Mondayâs audit report indicated that the district handled its budget very well in the previous budget year and maintained a positive fund balance. School Board President Ann Routt, who is on the âexperienced, dedicated, readyâ slate, tells WHMI that this flies counter to the claims of her opponents that the district is at risk for financial hardship. She says the district is already being responsible with its money and that it is amazing that they were able to do so well with the budget amid state-level changes. On the other side, Pat Howle of the âfiscal conservativeâ slate tells WHMI that the audit report, while very positive, only relates to last year. She says the district passed a $3 million deficit with its latest budget, and it is this kind of policy that concerns her. District officials point out that while the budget would have been three million in the red, the board anticipated the shortfall and set aside approximately $1.8 million to help offset that. The district is also anticipating profits from the sale of the Latson Road Elementary School property for the interchange project and those monies are not factored into the budget. Incumbent Mike Maloney, who is also on the âfiscal conservativeâ slate, simply said that it was an excellent report and that it is nice to receive some good news for a change. (TD)
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