DCSC board seeks best solutions to budget issues
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Resler

When a school corporation faces fin a n c i a l struggles, as has been the case at Delphi Community School Corporation for several years, questions may arise concerning how the school makes spending decisions.

Specifically, residents have questioned DCSC's decision to spend more than $770,000 on track facility renovations out of capital projects funds while building renovations, which could come from the same fund, have gone unaccomplished.

DCSC Board of Trustees President Robert Resler said one reason capital projects funds were used for the track was the corporation did not want to raise taxes. It would require a bond issue to produce the money. Instead, he said capital projects funds were earmarked the past two budget years for the track.

Secondly, he stated the track has been unusable for two years and to wait another year for funds to become available would be detrimental. He said all three schools in the Delphi corporation utilize the track regularly for physical education classes, sports and other events.

Resler explained capital projects funds could be used for the track because it was an existing facility. Had it been new construction, use of that fund would not have been legal.

He added renovations at other school facilities, such as those presented to the public during open houses at all DCSC schools in February and March, would come mostly from debt service.

The current debt service will expire in 2008. When it does, the school can choose to have a new bond issued. To do so would provide up to $20 million that could be used for renovations and updates.