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District reports small enrollment gain, warns of low fund balance months and delayed safety-net funding
Summary
Longview reported February figures showing average annual FTE about 58–62 above budget and a January general fund balance of $5.6 million; staff warned fund balance will dip in February–March before levy collections in April and noted safety-net and bus-delivery timing create cashflow considerations.
Longview School District staff reported a modest enrollment increase and cautioned the board about seasonal cash-flow pressures and delayed special-education safety-net payments.
Patty (staff member) said the district’s average annual full-time-equivalent (FTE) enrollment was 58 students above the budgeted projection and that the February monthly count showed roughly 62.15 FTE above budget. Patty said K–12 special-education enrollment is up for the year while preschool special-education enrollment is down.
On finances, staff reported the district’s general fund balance at the end of January was about $5.6 million. Patty said the district typically experiences its lowest fund-balance months in January through March and that levy tax collections in April will substantially increase reserves. She reminded the board that monthly payroll runs about $8 million, illustrating the importance of the fund balance for cash flow.
Staff also noted Longview applies for special-education safety-net funding but does not receive award notifications until August and payments often arrive in the September apportionment, creating a year-long timing gap between expenditures and reimbursements. Patty said the district is monitoring carryover limits for Title I and other categorical funds as ESSER funding sunsets.
Other budget notes: capital-project expenditures tend to concentrate in the summer; the transportation vehicle fund remains high while the district awaits delivery of five buses ordered more than a year ago.
Board members thanked staff for monitoring cash flow and suggested continued attention to partnerships and program management as enrollment trends evolve.
Ending: District staff will continue monitoring enrollment through June’s final count and return budget updates as levy collections and apportionment cycles progress.
