The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

I’ve tried to write about school funding before. It has multiple levels and at times is difficult to completely understand. But at a recent board training, I was given a Montana School Finance Handout a 25-page document explaining school finances.

I thought I would start by giving the Big Sandy K-12 Budget for FY2024. The total of all funds is $3,564,573.44, but having written that it’s important to know there are ten different fund categories.

The General Fund is $2,127,853.49. Transportation is $250,000; Bus Depreciation Reserve is $644,293.54; Tuition is $40,000; Retirement i...