Schools and Education School Board Gets Budget Update at Workshop

BRADENTON — At Tuesday's Manatee School Board workshop, district CFO Rebecca Roberts and Budget Director Heather Jenkins advised that the 2015-16 budget for the coming 2015-16 fiscal year will be $395 million.

"This budget will be balanced," said Roberts, before telling the board that it was learned recently that adjustments in the budget will need to be made.

The adjustments, Roberts said, are needed due to the district receiving less discretionary money from the state than expected for next year.

Reminding that she and Deputy Superintendent of Operations Don Hall told the board two months ago that $13 million in new money was anticipated, Roberts said that they just found out that the district would instead receive $12.2 million in discretionary monies.

A finalized budget will be brought to the board in July.