The Columbia Board of Education on Monday will vote on a nearly $270 million budget

The Columbia Board of Education on Monday will vote on a nearly $270 million budget for the 2023-24 school year.

The meeting will begin by administrating the oath of office to Karen Hayes, selected Wednesday by the board to fill the unexpired term of Katherine Sasser, who resigned.

The meeting also will include a final safety and security update from CPS security director John White, who is retiring.

The nearly $270 million in proposed spending is a $15.6 million increase from actual spending this school year, or nearly 5%.

Salaries make up $151 million - 60% of spending with benefits adding nearly $49 million, or 19%.

Revenues in the proposed 2023 general fund budget total nearly $268 million, with 64% from local sources, 29% state, 6% federal and 1% other.

"We are very highly supported by our local community," said Heather McArthur, CPS chief financial officer.

Deficit spending of $1.8 million is projected, with the current year-ending fund balance at $105.8 million.

Revenue is increasing by $3.2 million in the budget.

Federal revenue is falling by $3.3 million because of the end of federal pandemic stimulus funds, McArthur said.

The district has deliberately built up fund balances, expecting several years of deficit spending to hire teachers and furnish a new elementary school and other items.

The current year is expected to end with a $7.6 million surplus to add to the fund balance. When it was approved, a deficit budget was projected.

That's been a trend, said Noelle Gilzow, president of the CPS teachers' union, during Wednesday's public hearing on the budget.

"We're told we will be spending down our reserves over the next five years, but the fund balance continues to grow," Gilzow said.

The idea of building fund balances for teachers at schools that haven't been built yet doesn't set well with her, she said.

"It kind of feels like CPS is prioritizing future potential teachers over those who are here now," Gilzow said. "It doesn't feel good."

Under the contract CPS approved with teachers this year, the salary for beginning teachers was increased by less than 2%.

"I think we sit on too much money," Gilzow said.

The budget includes $100,000 for an assistant director for pre-k; five special education learning specialists, $300,000; and two psychologist interns, $100,000.

Some other district information shared by McArthur on Wednesday:

• CPS has 1,557 teachers.

• The district has 3.5 million square feet of building space and covers 303 square miles.

• The district spends $13,743 per pupil.

• The student-teacher ratio in CPS is 12.7, with an average class size of 16.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the district administration building, 1818 W. Worley St.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: CPS security director John White will make his final board report