This really ain’t my bag.
When I got into journalism, I went the easy route, covering sports and writing about movies.
My eyes glaze over when I try and parse complicated financial reports, such as the 2023-2024 draft budget for Coupeville schools.
I can pull out some numbers, such as the district acknowledging it expects to take a $400,000+ hit with its Connected Food Program.
The budget projects food service revenues to be $300,000 next school year, down considerably from the $502,960 generated in 2021-2022, when the state was financing free meals for all during the pandemic.
Expenditures for food service in 2023-24 are projected at $706,602.
That’s down from the $774,573 spent in 21-22, and the $863,155 projected in the 22-23 budget.
Now, there is also a line devoted to “School Food Services, Sales of Goods, Supplies and Services,” which projects $250,000 in profit.
The same line shows a $37,874 profit in 21-22 and $0 for the 22-23 budget.
Is the leap because the state has announced it will fund free breakfast and lunch for elementary school children, but NOT middle/high school students?
Or is there something else in play there?
I don’t know, and Superintendent Steve King went on vacation at the start of July.
He and his crew are obviously still tweaking things behind the scenes, but not answering emails currently — a deserved break.
People with a better understanding of budget ins and outs will have a chance to ask questions moving forward, with two school board meetings scheduled for July.
There is a workshop board meeting July 20 and a regular board meeting, with budget hearing, July 27.
Both meetings begin at 5:30 PM in the Anderson Board Room (Annex Room 305), which is located at the front of the CHS campus at 501 S. Main.
Until then, a link to the 41-page draft budget:
Coupeville Sports 