Concord School District holds second budget hearing; public presses board on Runlet renovation, trust funds and staff cuts

The Concord School District held its second public hearing on the proposed budget, hearing a presentation from district staff and public testimony urging the board to use surplus trust funds for Runlet Middle School and to avoid staff reductions.

District staff presented a budget overview and revenue and expenditure highlights before opening the hearing to public comment. The presentation said overall spending across major funds would change from the prior year and cited several drivers: a $3,000,000 increase in general-fund spending (2.84 percent), staffing adjustments that include net reductions and proposed additions, and higher costs for salaries, benefits and debt service. The presenter also described a proposed contracted school resource officer (SRO) for Runlet to be paid to the city at $101,006.54 and noted proposed transfers from expendable trust funds into the general fund. The presentation said the local tax rate…