USD 374 Outlines Role of Capital Outlay Funding in Building Maintenance
PRESS RELEASE
USD 374 Sublette
105 West Fern, PO Box 670
Sublette, KS 67877
620-675-2277
Rex Richardson, Superintendent
rrichardson@usd374.org
USD 374 Outlines Role of Capital Outlay Funding in Building Maintenance
Part 2 of an Ongoing Informational Series on the Proposed Bond Election
SUBLETTE, KS — USD 374 Sublette is sharing key information regarding the allocation, limitations, and recent uses of its annual Capital Outlay funds as part of its ongoing effort to keep district patrons informed about facility needs and long-term planning.
USD 374 receives $460,000 in annual Capital Outlay funding. While these funds are intended to help maintain district facilities, state and operational guidelines dictate that they must cover far more than building maintenance alone. Capital Outlay revenue is used for bus and vehicle replacements, large equipment purchases, and essential district software.
Over the past two years, USD 374 has worked diligently to move custodial and maintenance salaries—which were previously paid using Capital Outlay—back into General Operating Expenses. Despite this financial shift, only 25% to 30% of total Capital Outlay funds remain available specifically for building maintenance.
Once routine, day-to-day repairs and unexpected breaks are addressed, the district is left with roughly $150,000 each year to dedicate toward larger maintenance projects.
To give community members a clearer understanding of how these resources are managed, USD 374 has utilized Capital Outlay funds in recent years to complete several notable repairs and projects:
• HVAC & Appliances: Replacement of window AC units at the high school, a new hot water boiler system at the high school, and replacement of the high school cafeteria freezer.
• Security & Entryways: Installation of security doors at the Sublette Elementary front entrance, entrance door and window replacements at the auditorium main entrance, and replacement of exit doors near the preschool.
• Vehicles & Grounds Equipment: Purchase of a new school bus, replacement of a passenger vehicle, and replacement of an outdoor parking light and pole at the field house.
• Structural & Property Upgrades: Sidewalk repairs, roof repairs, and tree trimming and removal across district properties.
Because routine maintenance needs and essential daily operational costs absorb the majority of Capital Outlay funds, larger structural overhauls often exceed the limits of the district's annual budget. Most rural districts supplement Capital Outlay with strategically planned infusions of bond funds to maintain buildings appropriately.
For more details on district operations and facilities updates, patrons are encouraged to contact Superintendent Rex Richardson.