The continuing tight financial conditions facing Kentucky’s public school systems have led KSBA leaders to decide to continue the freeze on membership dues for a fourth consecutive year. There also will be no increases in fees for subscription-based services for the 2012-13 school year.
KSBA Executive Director Bill Scott called the decision to maintain the revenue-producing rates tough for the association, but no tougher than the decisions facing Kentucky school boards and superintendents.
“Our members are making choices about keeping employees and setting tax rates amid a lower per-pupil SEEK funding for the coming year,” Scott said. “Add to that the end of the federal stimulus dollars, and we have boards and superintendents who have very little financial wiggle room. We think this association can make do another year without asking for an infusion of support from our members.
“KSBA’s operational costs are very similar to those of districts,” Scott said. “It costs more to light and heat our building, to put our staff on the road to provide training and other services on site in the districts. We will lose some federal stimulus dollars that have supported our School Energy Manager Program. Staff wise, we’re a much smaller association than we were a decade ago. Yet, we’re also learning how to use technology and Web-based options to deliver services and maximize our staff’s time on the job.”
Scott and KSBA service unit directors are in the process of developing 2012-13 unit budget plans, work that will continue well into May. In June, the KSBA Board of Directors will consider the association’s fiscal plan for next year.