High school board OKs budget High school board OKs budget (July 07, 2004)

Even with expected double-digit increases in costs for health care and workers' compensation insurance, rising property-tax revenues are likely to smooth the differences between expenses and revenues in the fiscal year 2004-05 budget for the Sequoia Union High School District.

The district's five-member board of trustees voted unanimously to approve a $76 million budget at the June 23 school board meeting. Sequoia is expected to outspend its revenues by about $125,600 -- 0.2 percent -- in the 12-month period starting July 1, according to the budget submitted by Superintendent Patrick Gemma.

The budget shows estimates of district health-care costs rising by 12.5 percent and workers' compensation costs by 15 percent. Offsetting these expenses is an expected 5.25-percent increase in property-tax revenues.

The district's reserve fund for economic uncertainties in 2004-05 is listed as $2.9 million -- about 3.8 percent of the total budget. The figure is below the district's traditional target of 5 percent, but in line with the state's requirement of 4 percent.

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