ODE presents FY23 K-12 fiscal-transparency report, flags capital delays and reserve shortfalls

The Oregon Department of Education presented its fiscal year 2023 K–12 fiscal-transparency report to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ Education Subcommittee on May 19, describing statewide revenue and expenditure patterns, gaps in timely data, and plans to build public dashboards.

The report, delivered by Kai Turner, assistant superintendent for the Office of Finance and Information Technology, and Devin Castillo, director of fiscal transparency, summarized audited district financial statements covering 197 school districts and flagged capital-project underspending and district reserve shortfalls as the principal concerns for statewide fiscal resilience.

Turner said the department’s work is rooted in the state’s chart of accounts and statutory duties, and that the agency aims to make district finances “clear, comparable and actionable.” Castillo told the committee the report provides “a data-informed look into district revenue, expenditures and areas of improvement in financial reporting.”

ODE said the bulk of school funding comes…