Ferguson‑Florissant board approves amended FY24‑25 budget and organizational chart after weeks of scrutiny

The Ferguson‑Florissant School Board on Feb. 26 approved a revised fiscal year 2024‑25 budget and an organizational chart that administrators say will yield roughly $1.2 million in administrative savings, after a lengthy public comment period and detailed finance presentations that showed the district facing a projected $7.6 million shortfall by June 30.

The board voted 7–0 to adopt the amended budget and later approved the proposed organizational chart by a 6–1 roll‑call vote. The amended budget was moved by Board Member Graves and seconded by Board Member Dunn; the organizational chart vote included one dissent from Board Member Graves.

Dr. Singleton, the district finance presenter, told the board the amended budget reflects a projected $5.1 million overspend in expenditures and about $2.5 million less revenue than originally budgeted. "Salaries and benefits are the biggest culprit," Dr. Singleton said during the presentation, reporting roughly $5 million in salary overages and about $1.6 million in excess benefits costs projected through June 30. He said the district is projecting to end the year with about $18.9 million in cash (about 11.7 percent of expenditures under the amended budget), below a policy threshold the administration discussed as desirable.

The presentation laid out several specific drivers: a salary overage (about $5,000,000), a projected reduction in state basic formula revenue tied to attendance (about $1.3 million), and lower-than‑budgeted investment interest (about $1.1 million). Dr. Singleton said the district borrowed a tax anticipation note in October for $7,050,000 to cover cash‑flow timing and that most of that principal has been repaid; the remaining principal payment was scheduled for the week following the meeting. He warned that, without cuts, the district could fall below…