KOUTS | The East Porter County School Corp. board on Monday adopted its advertised 2009 budget of more than $28 million.

The general fund, which pays salaries, benefits and other operating costs, was set at almost $16.9 million. Debt service at $4.7 million and capital projects at $4.1 million were the next largest figures. Other fund amounts were transportation at $1.5 million, special education/preschool at $95,000, bus replacement at $366,000 and retirement severance at $329,000.

The fund totals have been advertised high, according to standard practice, in the expectation that the state will make cuts before certifying the budget, Superintendent Rod Gardin said.

The district also signed off on a three-year capital projects fund plan and a 12-year bus replacement plan, the first year of which is included in the 2009 budget.

The budget now goes to the state Department of Local Government Finance for approval. State approval of district budgets normally comes in the first several months of the year, but with continuing assessment delays that date has been pushed back in recent years.

The corporation's 2008 budget was certified by the state only last month. The final state-approved 2008 budget of $23.2 million includes:

* General fund -- $14,558,855

* Debt service -- $3,693,270

* Retirement severance -- $331,851

* Capital projects -- $2,578,951

* Transportation -- $1,371,600

* Bus replacement -- $595,000

* Special education/preschool -- $75,148