District projects continued enrollment decline and adopts supplemental budget reduction

District staff told the Eagle Point School District 9 board the district is losing students at a steady pace and recommended a supplemental budget adjustment to align appropriations with projected revenues.

The staff presentation said the district is losing about 3 percent of students per year and noted an especially large loss last year of about 170 students. So far in the current year staff reported 44 students lost. The presenter said those losses reduced the state school fund allocation below the amount originally projected.

To address the shortfall, staff proposed a supplemental budget (identified in the presentation as Resolution 13) that reduces expenditure appropriations by just under $700,000. Specific changes cited in the presentation included lowering the salary budget from $28,100,000 to $27,000,000 and benefits from $16,800,000 to $15,500,000. The presenter said several staff reductions implemented in the prior April and June budget actions contributed to the lower projected spending.

The package also increased the property and liability insurance line, and placed most of the remaining difference into contingency for future needs. A staff member clarified the insurance increase covered property and liability insurance purchased through the district’s carrier, not health insurance.

The board voted to approve the supplemental budget resolution. Roll-call exchanges recorded in the transcript show affirmative votes from board members Missus Strittenberg, Mister Wolf, Missus McIntyre, Mister Stone and Mister Graves; the transcript records the motion as "Motion approved." The mover and seconder for the motion were not specified in the public remarks on the record.

The board also approved the proposed budget calendar for the next year and declared a vacant budget committee position to be advertised; both motions were recorded as approved by roll call during the meeting.