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Former member rejoins Marietta board

Former Marietta City Schools Board of Education member Greg Gault re-joined the board on Monday, taking the oath of office and filling a seat left open earlier this month.

“This is a great opportunity to come back and help the board,” said Gault, 49, at Monday’s board meeting. “I really missed it.”

Gault was on the board from the beginning of 2008 until the end of 2015 serving as the president for four years and board member for three.

“We are really happy to have you back,” said Bill Hutchinson, board member, to Gault.

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the educational process again,” said Gault.

He has two children in Marietta City Schools and said he’s anxious to be a part of that again. At last month’s meeting, longtime member Don Atkinson announced his resignation from the board due to medical reasons. This resignation was effective Oct. 1.

By a majority vote of all the remaining members on the board, Gault was appointed to serve as a member for the unexpired term ending on Dec. 31 of next year.

Board member Karen Burton was also back Monday after being out due to medical reasons since July.

“I am so happy to be back and I feel better than ever,” said Burton.

In other news, Frank Antill, treasurer for Marietta City Schools presented the five-year financial forecast for the district.

“We are forecasting an estimated $24,461,138 in total revenue for next year,” said Antill.

The excess of revenue once the expenditures were taken out left the district with $287,003 for fiscal year 2017. The following year, the district will have to reach into its carryover balance if two different levies aren’t renewed.

The general levy for the district brings in around $3.6 million and the permanent improvement levy brings in around $1.2 million.

“If the levies don’t get renewed, then we will have to look into finding different ways for money,” said Antill.

As for revenue for the district, real estate taxes and state support account for 82 percent or $20.4 million. The forecast showed little fluctuation in the next fiscal years. The expenditures are subject to change because the district plans to look into lowering health benefits to save money.

These rates are forecast to drop in February, saving the district roughly $75,000. Health benefits account for $6.8 million of the district’s total expenditures.

“We do have plans to change some things within our schools to save additional money on our purchased services,” said Antill.

Purchased services total $3.7 million of the district’s expenditures.

“By finding different ways to make some energy changes, we can lower our energy bill,” said Hutchinson.

Marietta City Schools has forecast a savings of $60,000 in purchased services to help save money for the district by fiscal year 2017.

 

If you go

≤ The next Marietta City Schools Board of Education meeting will be on Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at 111 Academy Drive in Marietta.

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