By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Superintendent Dean Katt told Hays USD 489 board members at Monday’s work session the district is looking at a possible $1.3 million shortfall for 2014-15 school year.

Katt said staff is “looking at everything” they can to close the gap, including transportation costs.

He said the district could possibly charge fees for busing kids to and from school or decrease the number of bus routes.

According to Katt, the district is also following auditor recommendations and looking at activity funds.

At a January meeting, Ken Beran of auditor Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball pointed out many schools in Hays were not using all the funds allocated for school activities.

Katt said staff is thinking about “limiting” the amount schools are given for activities or if the funds are not used by the end of the school year, the funds would be moved to the district’s general fund.

Katt said staff will have a better idea of “where we are with the big picture of the budget” at the board’s next work session meeting.

Some of the issues helping create the district’s budget problems include a decline in enrollment, failing to budget for the cost of seventh-grade sports and the fact the district budgeted a 1 percent raise for employees instead of the actual 1.85 percent that was given.