School officials in Beaver Dam plan to use about $350,000 of federal stimulus money to help them balance their $48.3-million-dollar budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act required the funds to be used for specific programs. Business Services Director Andrew Sarnow says they’ll use the money on existing special programs. That will allow them to keep money they had previously committed to special education in their general fund and thereby increasing their revenues. Sarnow presented the budget last night informing the board there would a 5.1-percent increase in the mill rate, going up to 8.85 per 1,000 of assessed value. The board is expected to act on the budget during a meeting next month after they receive the final numbers on property values.
