CFO reports tax collections, ARPA receipts and 15 weeks of cash; board sends finance report to audit

The Detroit Public Schools Community District finance chief reported Feb. 11 that tax collections for the district’s levies came in and that the district received final federal ARPA/ESSER grant payments in December, leaving the district with about 15 weeks of available cash in the general fund at the end of December.

CFO overview Chief financial staff summarized revenue and expense lines: tax collections for both the 13‑ and 18‑mill levies were received, with operating‑debt collections noted; federal revenue exceeded forecast after the one‑time ARPA/ESSER payments arrived in December, while local and state receipts trailed slightly because some state grant disbursements lag.

On expenditures, the CFO said year‑to‑date spending is slightly below projections. The December payroll included bonuses and retroactive pay tied to union agreements, which increased personnel expense for that month. The CFO also noted capital bond principal payments are due in April.

Board action Board members asked for clear presentation materials after a streaming glitch; one member requested IT help because many trustees could not see the slides. After discussion, the board agreed by consensus to forward the finance report to the district audit process — no formal motion was required during the meeting.

Context and next steps Trustees pressed staff about the state’s slow timing of grant disbursements — the CFO said the Michigan Department of Education has been delayed in processing some grants and that funds often arrive in spring. Board members said they will follow up with lobbyists and statewide coalitions to seek faster state payments. The finance office said it will send board members the presentation materials and respond to any follow‑up questions.

Ending The CFO closed noting the district is on track to maintain a budget surplus for the year if state grant delays are resolved and routine expenditures remain near projections.