Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
USDB reports balanced cash position; board begins multi‑month budget formulation process
Summary
USDB financial manager reported revenues and expenditures through March 31 and the board’s finance study session reviewed timeline and approach for next year’s budget formulation under the Budgetary Procedures Act.
Vicky Summers, financial manager for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB), told the board that, through the nine periods ending March 31, the agency reported revenues of $44.8 million and expenditures of $46.1 million but that transfers of about $1.5 million had been received in the final payroll period to correct the deficit for April reports.
“We do have sufficient cash on hand to meet USDB’s obligations and payments,” Summers said, and she listed the enrichment fund ($766,547), donated funds ($279,620) and an education foundation balance (about $1.2 million). Summers said she would “round the numbers” in the oral briefing and directed board members to the packet for full figures.
The board then held a study session led by Deputy Superintendent Scott Jones on the budget formulation process required by the Budgetary Procedures Act and the board’s timeline for producing a governor’s submission in October. Jones emphasized that the process is board‑driven but requires staff to prepare option papers, cost estimates and bill books for board deliberation. He asked the board to treat the finance committee’s May work as the start of a months‑long formulation period that culminates in an October submission and then legislative negotiations in the winter session.
“We want to make sure that it is the board that is leading in all things budget related,” Jones told trustees. He summarized five‑year funding trends, noting that recent years saw variable ongoing and one‑time funding, and described Amendment G’s inflationary WPU (weighted pupil unit) adjustments. Jones and board members discussed how revenue uncertainty — and late revenue estimates from the executive and legislative budgeting process in December — has historically narrowed what the board can realistically seek in the session.
Board members asked how non‑finance‑committee trustees could influence priorities; Jones said trustees should provide suggestions to finance committee members and that June is the key month for submitting proposals for staff to develop. Several board members said they wanted budget requests to be more data driven so the board can justify priorities on student outcomes rather than broad “wish lists.” Deputy Superintendent Leah Voorhees and other staff described how USBE and USDB track program and federal grant lines such as IDEA and Title III.
Jones also reviewed the “bill book,” which summarizes bills and budget impacts, and said finance committee motions made that day will come to the full board in June for formal ratification. He and staff committed to continuing work with legislative fiscal staff and the governor’s office to test “what‑if” revenue scenarios.
No formal board appropriation votes were taken during the study session; the finance committee’s motions are scheduled for the board’s June meeting.
