Finance staff presented the district’s revised 2024–25 General Fund budget to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on 2025-05-01, explaining updates to revenue and expenditure projections since the proposed budget adopted in June.

Finance director Miss Lopez said total revenues were projected to increase by about $16.5 million over the proposed budget, driven principally by an $11.7 million increase in state funding for certified and non‑certified staff stipends. Property tax collections were about $1 million above prior estimates and sales tax receipts were about $300,000 below proposal; MFP (Minimum Foundation Program) funding decreased by approximately $600,000 because of lower enrollment. ESSER federal funds had closed in September 2024, reducing indirect cost recoveries.

Lopez reported a projected total fund balance of $132.6 million (about 22% of revenues), with an unassigned balance of about $109.1 million and assigned balance of about $35.5 million. The administration’s spending priorities included early childhood ($18.5 million via grants), literacy (about $6 million from the general fund plus other federal funds), college and career readiness ($16.6 million), facilities and security ($66.8 million) and high‑dose tutoring ($2.9 million from state and federal grants).

District staff described a timeline required by state law: publish the budget, hold a public hearing and adopt the budget at a subsequent board meeting (the administration said a public hearing was planned for June 5 and board adoption for June 12). During discussion board members asked for additional middle‑school cohort data and requested the item be sent to the regular board meeting with the administration’s recommendation; the board approved that motion by roll call vote.

Staff highlighted that district enrollment has fallen since 2015: including Type‑1 charters, the district reported about a 3.3% decline (roughly 1,800 students) since 2015–16; excluding Type‑1 charters, district‑run schools showed a larger decline of about 5,800 students (about 15.6%). Staff said charter growth affects local revenue allocations because local tax and MFP funds follow student enrollment.