Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Enrollment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Citrus school leaders warn $3.5 million enrollment shortfall will squeeze 2025–26 budget; board directs thank-you letter on impact fees
Summary
Superintendent and finance staff told the Citrus County School Board that a roughly 1% drop in enrollment equals about $3.5 million in lost revenue from a $320 million budget; the board approved measures to pause hiring, seek efficiencies and sent a letter thanking county commissioners while requesting full impact‑fee restoration.
Superintendent Dr. Hebert told the Citrus County School Board the district faces an enrollment-driven revenue shortfall for 2025–26. “We have a $320,000,000 budget. So because of the loss of students, it's about 1%,” he said, adding “Now that's 3,500,000.0. That's not something to sneeze at.”
The superintendent and finance director described steps already underway to address the gap: a pause on some hiring (distinct from a formal hiring freeze), reviews of duplicate programs and seat/license counts, and targeted efficiency efforts across departments. Finance Director Tammy Wilson said staff were monitoring year‑end numbers closely and reported they were “about $5,000 away of from touching the fund balance.”
Board members pressed for clarity about use of the district’s unrestricted fund balance and for plans to avoid making a recurring practice of drawing reserves. The board’s 3.5% policy target for the unrestricted fund balance was repeatedly referenced in discussion; staff said the district had been above 5% at the end of the prior year and projected it expects to remain above the 3.5% policy after planned adjustments.
As part of broader efforts to support capital funding, the board voted to direct the chair to send a letter to the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners thanking them for recent actions on sales taxes and requesting they adopt the full 100% impact‑fee recommendation. A motion to direct the chair to send the letter was made and seconded, and members responded in voice vote in favor.
Board members said they are weighing options to protect classroom instruction while ensuring structural adjustments to staffing and programs. Staff emphasized those decisions will be made with the goal of minimizing direct classroom impacts and returning to higher fund-balance levels when possible.
The board asked staff to return with more detailed budgets and specific positions under review at future meetings. No layoffs or formal budget ordinance changes were approved at the meeting; the board's actions were limited to direction and a letter to the county commissioners.
