New EGF school budget comes up a bit short

The East Grand Forks School Board has adopted a 2022-23 budget that deficit spends to the tune of over $838,000 dollars.

The board adopted the $29 million dollar spending plan knowing that some numbers could change in the coming months. School officials note the budget is based on conservative estimates – including an enrollment of 1,840 students. The district started last year with a headcount of over 19-hundred only to see it fall to 1,858 by the time classes ended.

Superintendent Mike Kolness says the district is seeing increased costs in just about every area. He says the legislative session also ended without addressing certain school needs.  “What’s the feeling down in St. Paul?  I think they are holding off because they are looking at the election in the fall.  There was a lot of money on the table that got left there.”

With the free federal lunch program ending the district is also working on setting school meal prices and the fee schedule for athletics. Those issues will likely come before the board later this month.