PCSSD board approves 2025–26 budget after multi-year deficit warning

Little Rock — The Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) board voted Sept. 25 to approve the district’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget after staff presented Cycle 1 financial reports and an itemized board budget report. The presentation showed a proposed budget that staff say would produce a modest positive legal fund balance if collection rates meet assumptions; the presentation stated the district budgeted revenue at 98% collection and projects an ending legal-balance increase of roughly $700,000 if the budget is followed. Why it matters: District staff warned the board the district has experienced multiple years of declining operating reserves and that the Arkansas Department of Education had flagged the district for a declining balance. The board and staff framed the adopted budget as a step to halt that decline and avoid possible state financial actions. The budget presentation was made by finance staff (identified in the meeting as Miss Guess). Staff explained Cycle 1 reports are uncertified until final submission and that the Cycle 1 and the board-budget report are the same analyses presented at different levels of detail. The board report breaks fund-level totals into specific fund-source lines and shows beginning balances, revenues, expenditures and projected ending…