The Dallas County Board of Education approved their 2019 fiscal year budget at their meeting on Thursday night.

During two budget hearings, Chief School Financial Officer (CSFO) Brenda Turner talked about the numbers for the upcoming year, and how the decrease of students had affected units provided by the state.

The average daily membership (ADM), which represents the total average daily enrollment during the first 20 days after Labor Day of the school year showed that the fiscal year 2019 has a total of 3,177.75 units, which is a decrease of 12.15 from last year’s ADM.

“During the past five years, our ADM has decreased by 517.90,” said Turner. “Which equals to over 24 state earned teaching units.”

State earned units for Dallas County Schools include 182.70 teacher units, 11 principals, two assistant principals, 7.50 counselors, eight librarians, two career tech directors and one career tech counselor.

Turner said this equals to 214.20 units earned from state funds.

2018 Foundation Program Components increased for this 2019 fiscal year.

Salaries have increased from last year’s budget due to a 2.5 percent pay raise that was enacted across the state. This brings the salary component from $10,946,995 last year to $11,182,259 this year, which is a 235,264 increase.

Fringe benefits increased from $4,353,058 last year to $4,418,419 this year, which is a $65,361 increase.

Other Current expenses have increased from $3,782,994 last year to $3,844,887 this year, which is a $61,893 increase.

Classroom instructional support increased $107,609 going from $333,795 in 2018 fiscal year to $414,404 this year.

When broken down, student materials are now $536.07 per unit as opposed to $421.51 per unit last year, technology costs are $300 per unit instead of $211.51 per unit, library enhancement increased $65.70 per unit going from $30.44 per unit to $96.14 per unit., professional development only increased $12.45 going from $77.55 per unit to $90 per unit and textbooks increased $15.48 per ADM going from $54.52 per ADM to $70 per ADM.

The fight towards a one-month reserve continues for the school system.

According to projections provided by Turner, the General Fund Balance now sits at $1.9 million or 88 percent to having a one-month reserve.

According to numbers in 2010, the school system had $505,517 or 23 percent of the one-month reserve.