Budget office presents 2026 operating budget; public hearing and adoption set for Sept. 4

District staff presented the Livingston Parish Public Schools proposed 2026 operating budget to the budget committee and said the document will be available for public review ahead of a public hearing and final adoption by the full board on Sept. 4.

A staff presenter identified as Mr. Purvis told the committee the budget projects revenues of approximately $271,000,000 and general‑fund expenditures of about $275,000,000, producing a current‑year deficit of $4,600,000. He said the district has a prior‑year surplus of $61,800,000 that leaves a net surplus of $57,100,000; of that, $27,000,000 is held in restricted reserves and $29,300,000 is undesignated.

The presentation attributed the projected revenue decrease primarily to reductions in ad valorem tax estimates, a drop in the MFP (state foundation funding) driven by lower student counts, reduced indirect costs recovered from federal grants, and fewer capital lease proceeds. The presenter said the district expects a slight increase in sales taxes and interest income. On MFP, the presenter said “No changes this year. The formulas or anything else associated with MFP? That is correct. No changes.”

The presenter noted one‑time federal ESSER funding in prior years had reduced general‑fund pressures for 2022–24 and that the district continues to carry significant personnel costs—personnel accounts for about 86 percent of general‑fund expenditures in the presentation. The presentation also reviewed other funds: second sales tax, 7‑mill maintenance, sinking fund (debt service), construction fund (5 mill), school food service, disaster fund and federal funds including IDEA and Title I. The presenter reported that COVID relief funds have been exhausted and that some federal funds were briefly frozen but have been released for the current year.

Committee members asked about timing and details; the presenter said the budget will be posted on the district website and available at the central office front desk until Thursday, Sept. 4. He said there will be a public hearing at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, followed by adoption of the 2026 budget by the full board. The transcript records this portion of the meeting as presentation only and records no committee vote on the operating budget at the committee level.