By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved using the district’s contingency reserve funds to pay June salaries and bills.

Director of Finance Tracy Kaiser said the move comes from a recommendation from the Kansas Department of Education.

The district has a little more than $394,000 in the contingency fund.

Superintendent Dean Katt is hoping all the reserve funds will not have to used.

“I would like to be able to say (we) will not use it all, if it is any way possible,” said Katt said. “Hopefully we will have something left, but at this point, we do not know.”

Katt has said the KSDE and district auditors recommend carrying a balance in the contingency fund, but approved the use of the reserve funds this year because it was the only option to balance the budget and close the books for the fiscal year.

Grappling with a more than $1 million budget deficit for the upcoming year, the board recently approved increasing workbook/material and activity fees in an effort rebuild contingency funds. The district also has made the procedural moves that would allow the district to part ways with 16 staff members.

An upcoming mail-in local option budget election to raise the LOB from 30 percent to 31 percent, if passed, will raise another $200,000 for the district.

The board of education has said the LOB funds will be used to reduce fees and reduce classroom size by rehiring elementary teachers whose contracts were not renewed for the FY 2014-15. Ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes June 11 and must be returned by noon June 27.

Katt said the district will know more about where the district’s budget stands in August.