In the heart of West Sacramento, the Board of Education convened on September 25, 2025, to discuss the financial health of the district as they reviewed the unaudited actuals for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The meeting, led by President Kirby Gonzales, was marked by a sense of optimism as Chief Business Officer Monique Stovall presented the financial report, highlighting key changes in revenue and expenditures.

Stovall explained that the term "unaudited" refers to the preliminary nature of the financial figures, which will undergo further scrutiny by external auditors in the coming months. The report provided a snapshot of the district's actual revenue and expenditures through June 30, 2025, and set the stage for future budget discussions.

Fiscal Director Billy Duba took the floor to delve into the specifics, comparing the estimated actuals from June with the unaudited figures. He revealed that the district experienced a slight increase in revenue, attributed to higher interest income from funds held at the county bank. Meanwhile, expenses were down, particularly in contracted services and contributions to special education, leading to a more favorable fund balance than initially projected.

The numbers told a compelling story: the district's unrestricted budget showed a net change of $3.9 million, improving the anticipated deficit spending from $11.2 million to a more manageable $7.3 million. Similarly, the restricted budget also reflected positive trends, with a net change of $5.5 million, reducing the deficit from $8.9 million to $3.3 million.

Duba emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive ending fund balance, a key indicator of the district's financial health. The board learned that the ending fund balance had improved significantly, now standing at over $22 million, compared to the earlier estimate of $18.1 million.

As the meeting concluded, the board members expressed their commitment to ensuring that these financial improvements would support the district's strategic goals, including student success and equity principles. The discussions underscored a collective determination to navigate the challenges ahead while fostering a sustainable financial future for the West Sacramento school district.