Marion County oversight committee reviews $260 million referendum plan; staff outline program spending and safety investments

Marion County Public Schools officials on Thursday gave the Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee a quarter‑one update on spending from the voter‑approved 1‑mill referendum, saying roughly $260 million is expected in revenue and about $250 million is projected to be spent through the life of the measure.

Robert Rios Welsh, the district’s chief financial officer, told the committee the referendum — approved by voters Nov. 8, 2022, effective July 1, 2023, and set to run through June 30, 2027 — supports classroom staff and programs the district says would otherwise be at risk. “We take this very seriously in terms of making sure that we have a clear look at how referendum dollars are being used responsibly, transparently, and with the greatest impact for all student, staff, and the community,” Rios Welsh said.

Why it matters: the referendum is restricted by voter language to instructional and related programs (art, music, physical education, library/media, vocational programs and school safety). The committee review tracks budgeted amounts, year‑to‑date spending, and the number of staff positions funded from those dollars so the committee can report back to the superintendent and the public.

Key financial figures and fund balance - Total expected referendum revenue over the measure’s life: $260,000,000 (district projection). Projected total expenditures: about $250,000,000. - For the 2025–26 year, the district budgeted $41,000,000 in referendum revenue and $42,000,000 in referendum expenditures, with a projected ending fund balance of about $12,000,000 (the 2024–25 ending balance rolled into 25–26 was reported at $13,300,000). - First‑quarter receipts were reported at 19% of expected annual revenue with expenditures at roughly 17% of budget, the presenters said.

Program allocations and staffing - Class‑size reduction: The district said the largest single category (39% of district referendum spending) supports class‑size reduction through personnel funded by the referendum. Officials explained a recent reclassification of positions moved many basic classroom…