Meridian School Board OKs $56.4 million budget

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
June 30, 2003
The Meridian Public School Board voted today to approve a $56.4 million budget for the 2003-2004 school year.
Suzanne Smith, chief financial officer for the district, proposed the budget during an open hearing June 23. Residents of Meridian had seven days to ask questions or bring forth concerns about the district's spending.
Smith said she received no calls or inquires.
Smith also said the amount of money generated by ad valorem, or property taxes, will be $13.3 million.
The new budget will raise property taxes on homes and vehicles by 1.97 percent next year. That means for example, that owners of a $75,000 home with homestead exemption will pay $5 more in taxes, while owners of a $100,000 home will pay $6.70 more in taxes.
During today's special called meeting, the board also took the following actions:
Replaced the current School Lunch Plus software with NutriKids software;
Renewed the AIMS agreement at Magnolia Middle School for its third and final year;
Voted to allow district personnel to accumulate personal days and transfer them to sick days; and
Revised the attendance policy for kindergarten through 12th grade, allowing students to be absent 10 days per semester and 20 days per year.