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Audit & Finance committee backs budget with teacher raises and classified pay increases; trustees seek more public workshop time
Summary
Audit & Finance recommended the district’s FY26 budget for second reading, including a teacher minimum raise to $65,000 for early steps and classified pay increases; trustees pressed for more public discussion and clearer attachments for action items and asked staff for follow‑up on IT audit findings.
The Audit & Finance Committee recommended the proposed FY26 budget for second reading and the Committee sent its positive recommendation to the full board.
Committee chair Miss Watley and other trustees highlighted major elements of the budget: an increase in teacher pay (the presentation described a goal of a $65,000 starting mark for early steps), additional increases for classified staff, continuation of the district’s market adjustments and a district effort to hold schools harmless for FY26 WSF allocation declines (staff referenced approximately $2.5 million in hold‑harmless treatment for selected schools). Audit & Finance members said the budget and supporting materials were vetted by outside business experts invited to the committee and that the committee’s deliberations led to only minor technical adjustments.
In committee staff noted a late proviso amendment in the state House that would change the charter‑school weighting factor used in state funding calculations; staff said the amendment would produce roughly a $700,000 downward adjustment in projected revenue for the district if the House language were adopted. Finance staff emphasized conservative revenue projections and said net appropriations in the district plan were not changed by the late House action while the budget carried forward conservative assumptions.
Trustees pressed for more public conversation time about the budget. Several trustees said two‑minute speaking slots at the full board are not sufficient for the level of discussion they want for such a significant fiscal decision and asked staff to provide clearer links between action items and attachments in BoardDocs for easier review. The committee also received an internal audit on technology and cybersecurity; the presentation of that audit included executive‑session material and staff said follow‑up actions and attorney‑client privileged details would be communicated via appropriate channels as they are implemented.
Ending: The committee’s positive recommendation sent the budget and several related action items to the May 19 board meeting; trustees requested additional briefings and clearer attachments ahead of the full‑board vote.
