Finance staff presented the board-location (8000) portion of the district's approved FY26 budget and invited the board to recommend increases or decreases to specific line items ahead of FY27 planning. The board-location total shown was $3.9 million, of which $3.5 million was set aside for anticipated legal settlements.

Why it matters: the board-location budget funds the board's meeting-related expenses and a large settlement reserve. Board members said they had not previously had a line-by-line presentation of their own budget and pressed for clearer oversight and an opportunity to make targeted adjustments.

What the presentation covered: finance staff explained the major line items that make up the $3.9 million allocation, including:

- Election services ($200,000) to cover costs charged by the Board of Election Commissioners when district elections occur;
- Other professional services (recommended increase) covering contracted consultants and lobbying/representation (examples cited included MSBA dues and consultant invoices);
- Travel and conferences ($40,000) with per-diem limits and district travel policy standards; and
- A large legal-settlements line ($3,500,000) that finance put in the board location for FY26 to separate settlements from legal-services expenses.

Finance staff said FY24 and FY25 historical expenditures informed the recommended increases and decreases and noted that changing how settlements are coded (under board location versus legal location) was intended to improve tracking and reporting. Several board members questioned that decision: one member recommended moving settlements back under the legal department's location code while keeping settlements separately tracked.

Board discussion and next steps: board members asked for line-by-line detail and the chance to review recommended adjustments with the newly formed budget committee. Finance staff agreed to deliver the materials to the budget committee, to present quarterly budget reports, and to meet with board members individually or in committee to clarify travel approvals, memberships and legal spend. The board identified the upcoming MSBA conference and several consent-agenda items as near-term items tied to the board-location budget.

Ending: finance staff noted the FY27 budget schedule (final approval required by June 1, 2026) and said quarterly reporting will continue; the board and finance agreed to more-detailed follow-up in the budget committee and at future meetings.