Portland Public Schools outlines budget proposal with emphasis on salaries and audits

During the recent Board of Education's Audit Committee meeting, Portland Public Schools (PPS) presented its budget proposal for the upcoming school year, highlighting a significant focus on salary and fringe benefits, particularly due to increases in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The proposed budget reflects an estimated increase of $32,000, with $20,000 attributed directly to PERS costs. Despite these increases, the committee noted that there are no major changes requested compared to last year’s budget.

The discussion also included a brief overview of professional development needs for staff, with a small budget increase proposed to allow for additional training sessions. This is particularly important as staff members are required to complete a set number of professional development hours every two years.

In addition to budgetary concerns, the meeting featured benchmarking data comparing PPS to 31 other school districts, primarily those within the Council of Great City Schools. The data revealed that PPS is slightly below average in terms of general fund investment and the number of auditors per $100 million in the general fund. However, the district's audit committee structure was highlighted as a best practice, with a mix of board members and community advisors, which is less common among peer districts.

The committee's commitment to transparency and accountability was evident, as they discussed the importance of adhering to professional audit standards and the role of the audit committee in overseeing financial practices. This meeting underscored the district's ongoing efforts to manage its budget responsibly while ensuring compliance with established auditing practices, ultimately aiming to enhance educational outcomes for students in the community.