Finance staff reports roughly $19 million projected surplus; Cognos reports fixed and Fund 30 review planned

Finance staff presented period-12 financial reports and a preliminary revenue/expense projection that showed a projected general-fund surplus near $19 million before audit adjustments. The administration said period-13 audit adjustments remain and the projection could shift; current guidance placed the projected surplus in the $18 million to $20 million range.

"Right now, our revenue and expense projection is projecting somewhere around a $19,000,000 surplus, going into budget," Miss Hauser, staff member, told the committee, noting that accruals and audit adjustments could change the figure. Staff said Cognos report exports that had previously broken were fixed and that the business office will propose clearer report formats that draw directly from system data to reduce manual manipulation and error.

Why it matters: the projection influences budget planning and the timing of budget transfers that require board approval. Staff said they will present improved report formats and recommended Fund 30 cash forecasting to give the board clearer monthly visibility on capital projects and construction flows.

Next steps: staff said they will meet internally to redesign reports and will present proposed new report formats to the Finance Committee. The administration also said it will present a short-term Fund 30 cash forecast in a future committee meeting to provide more transparent information on capital project cash flows.