Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kenston Local projects modest cash increase; board and staff brace for state budget uncertainty and staffing 'rightsizing'
Summary
Treasure and superintendent reported a forecasted June 30 general‑fund cash balance of about $9.1 million, roughly $520,000 favorable to the November forecast, while administrators cautioned that the governor's proposed budget and voucher increases could affect future funding and that staffing remains the largest cost driver.
Kenston Local Schools Treasurer Mr. Kales told the board on March 18 that the district’s year‑to‑date revenue and expenditure trends project an estimated June 30 general‑fund cash balance of about $9.1 million, roughly $520,000 better than the district’s November forecast.
“Our general fund is what we do the five‑year forecast on,” Mr. Kales said during his February month‑end review. He attributed the current year‑to‑date revenue increase largely to timing of tax settlements and a recent six‑year reappraisal, and he said the district’s November permanent improvement (PI) levy has freed general‑fund dollars that previously transferred to capital needs.
The treasurer and superintendent emphasized that the district is watching expenditures closely because salaries and benefits account for roughly 81–82% of total spending. Superintendent Dr. Willingham reiterated that the district is pursuing “rightsizing” by using attrition to control staffing costs rather than layoffs. “We do not … want to do any rifts, layoffs, anything like that,” he said, noting administrators are examining retirements and course scheduling to absorb shifts without deficit spending.
Nut graf: The board received a detailed monthly financial presentation that showed a modestly improved cash projection for the fiscal year; district leaders said the outlook remains sensitive to state budget decisions and enrollment and staffing choices that will be finalized in the coming weeks.
Administrators also flagged a state policy issue. Dr. Willingham and board member Dr. Krauss discussed the governor’s proposed biennial budget and increases for voucher programs, which district officials said appear to channel more funding to private school vouchers while not providing a comparable increase to public schools. Dr. Krauss urged community members to contact legislators about the proposal; the board was advised the state budget process will continue through the spring and could affect the district’s five‑year forecast.
The treasurer’s presentation included monthly details: year‑to‑date revenues were about $3 million higher than the prior year mostly due to timing; expenditures were about $213,000 higher than the prior year; and current trends showed roughly $330,000 favorable revenue and $197,000 favorable expenditures versus the November forecast.
Ending: Board members voted on routine financial items later in the meeting (see “Votes at a glance”). Treasurer Kales said all materials shown to the board would be posted to the district website and that administrators will continue to monitor revenues, benefits costs and staffing decisions through the spring staffing season.
