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School budget decisions postponed

Community committee will weigh in

Durango School District 9-R board members have postponed a decision on a proposed $42 million budget for the 2015-16 academic year.

The board was scheduled to act Tuesday but delayed, pending a recommendation from the financial advisory committee, a panel of community experts not scheduled to meet until June 5.

Committee members could offer a recommendation to the board June 9, district spokeswoman Julie Popp said.

Tabling adoption of the budget Tuesday also accommodated a requirement of the union representing nonteaching personnel. The union of classified employees requires that its proposed salary-and-benefit package be acted upon within 30 days of presentation to the board. The planned June 30 adoption would have fallen outside the 30-day window.

The unions representing teachers and nonteaching employees have negotiated salary-and-benefit increases with the district. Whatever the raises turn out to be, the money will come out of reserves.

A one-step increase in the salary grid for all employees would cost $700,000. The district’s reserve balance stands at $5.8 million.

daler@durangoherald.com



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