The below message from Dr. Jason Dandoy, Superintendent of Schools, and Theresa Rangel, Board of Education President, was published in the fall edition of ourTurner Today magazine:

Turner Community, 

We hope that you’ve been able to find a way to connect with our local schools as we began the school year in August. We have an increase in students participating in activities/athletics, and fall is a great time to check out an event, or simply follow the great things happening in our district via this publication or social media. We use Turner Today to inform all community members, including those without children, about our public schools since our students are ultimately our future community members, and thus, the future of Turner.

Each fall, our district finalizes an annual budget that has been built through the previous spring and summer using our district Strategic Plan, an assessment of student needs, and a facility improvement analysis. The budget is based primarily on student enrollment and “weightings”, which are additional funds for students who meet certain criteria, such as those who participate in a vocational program, quality for the free lunch program, or speak a primary language other than English. Our final budget allocations are determined later in the school year, when the Kansas Department of Education audits the enrollment data that we submit.

Our District leadership and the Board of Education work each year to ensure that we pass a fiscally responsible budget that maintains a high-quality educational experience for our students. Our students impress us each day with their hard work, perseverance, and unique personalities. Our investment in them is essential as they grow as individuals, and eventually, support this community.

General Fund

The General Fund and Supplemental General Fund are used to cover operational expenses such as instructional materials, staff salaries, insurance, and utilities. Kansas Statute requires each school district to levy 20 mills for general operating funds. This year, the amount of taxes to be levied locally by USD 202 for the General Fund is $4,005,154. The total budget for the General Fund is $37,088,589, with 89% of the funding being paid for by the State.

Supplemental General Fund

The Supplemental General Fund, also known as the “Local Option Budget,” is based on the total amount of the General Fund, multiplied by a percentage. State statute limits this to 33% of the General Fund and Turner USD 202 has set our Supplemental General Fund budget below that, at 31%. This year, the amount of taxes to be levied locally by USD 202 for the Supplemental General Fund is $3,343,310. The total budget for the Supplemental General Fund is $11,586,947. In this fund, 67% of funding comes from State Equalization Aid.

Capital Outlay

The Capital Outlay mill levy of 8 mills was authorized by a resolution approved by the local Board of Education in 2014. Expenditures from this fund are used for facility maintenance, annual improvements, and technology purchases. This year, USD 202 will raise $2,310,398 in local taxes and receive $1,501,759 in State Aid. For each dollar that is raised locally in USD 202 for the Capital Outlay Fund, the district will receive an additional $0.65 from the state.

Bond & Interest

The Bond and Interest mill levy was approved by a majority of voters for new construction and renovations to existing facilities. The mill levy is based upon the total payments that will be made by the district during the calendar year. As promised during the 2019 Bond campaign, the tax rate in this fund has not increased and will not unless a future project is proposed. Our district has been able to lower the tax rate in this fund for the past two years and it currently is at 12.5 mills.

As always, we appreciate your support of our public schools and hope that this summary is beneficial to your understanding of how our district is financed. If you have questions about the funds or ways in which they are used, please feel free to reach out to one of us or our Director of Business Services at 913-288-4185. Thank you for supporting our Turner students and we wish you a wonderful fall season.