Alpine board OKs $568.4M budget

AMERICAN FORK — The Alpine Board of Education this week approved a budget of $568.4 million for the 2008-09 school year.

The budget is up $42.4 million from last year's. Rob Smith, Alpine District business administrator, attributed the increase to construction projects and increased teacher salaries.

The district is also expecting about 1,800 more students than last school year. Enrollment for the 2007-08 school year was 58,740.

The number of charter school students in Alpine District has also increased. Per state legislation, the district will be paying about $900,000 to support charter students who live within its boundaries.