USD 489 board vote on retaining fee hike on Monday agenda

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

USD 489 board members will vote Monday evening on whether to retain the increased fees imposed in July for the 2015-16 school year.

Facing a more than $1 million budget gap, board members voted in May, and made a final decision in July, to approve an activity fee increase of $50.

The activity fee for Hays Middle School students jumped $12 a year to $62 and from $16 to $66 for Hays High Students.

The workbook/enrollment fee was also increased from $100 to $160.

A kindergarten fee of $150 was also added to remain until further action of the board.

The board approved the fees increases for the 2014-15 year for one year to be revisited if needed for the 2015-16 year.

At last week’s board of education work session, USD 489 administration recommended the fee increases stay as-is for another year, based on a what Superintendent Dean Katt called an “uncertain budget,” due to the more than $300 million state budget shortfall.

Katt said at the Jan. 12 work session he did not “see how (the state) can go without cutting something in education,” adding the district needs to “plan for this and, if something changes, we can always lower (the fees.)”

Executive Director of Finance and Support Services Tracy Kaiser added the fee increases generated $295,000 “critical” dollars for the district with another $30,000 expected from those making payments.

The board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th.

The meeting will open with comments from the public and a presentation of the USD 489 Best of the Best Awards.

Personnel transactions are also scheduled for the “consent agenda” portion of the meeting.

A full agenda can be located on the USD 489 website HERE.