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Pulaski district previews 2025‑26 budget assumptions; fund balance, buses and health insurance highlighted
Summary
District finance staff outlined planning assumptions for the 2025‑26 budget including state revenue limits, open‑enrollment changes, replacement of buses, the end of ESSER funds and a placeholder for health insurance renewals; the board discussed fund balance targets and forecasting timelines.
A district finance staff member presented initial assumptions for the Pulaski Community School District's 2025‑26 budget at the board's February workshop, outlining revenue drivers, known obligations and placeholders staff are using while the district finalizes figures.
Why it matters: The assumptions form the basis of an eight‑month budget process that will return to the board for approval; changes at the state or federal level — or shifts in open enrollment — could alter the district's revenue and spending outlook.
What staff reported: - State revenue limit: Staff said the district's revenue limit for next year will be set by the state and that the district is using DPI guidance as its working assumption. - Open enrollment: Staff explained that open enrollment numbers affect revenues; the presentation used the district's expected senior class departures as part of its enrollment projection and said the 4K group moving into kindergarten will also change counts. Staff noted the open‑enrollment application window had just opened and final counts were not yet available. - ESSER funds: Staff said the district must make up for the final tranche of ESSER funds that were used last year; no specific replacement funding source was proposed at the workshop. - Buses: The presenter said the district has agreed to replace buses next year and showed a bus acquisition placeholder of $65,000. A board member questioned whether that amount covered three full buses; the presenter said the mix included two full buses and one shorter bus and that the recent purchase pattern had not always replaced three full buses at once. - Health insurance and benefits: Staff used a placeholder assumption for health‑insurance renewal in the March workshop and estimated a broad range for premium change, noting the district would have firmer figures when renewals are complete. The presenter characterized the current placeholder as speculative and said staff would return with actual renewal data at the March/April workshops. - Fund balance: The presenter reported the district's current fund balance was about $10,000,000, which the presenter said was roughly 17% of operating funds. The presenter described a projected shortfall mentioned in the discussion as "$4.36 500" in the transcript; the exact numeric amount as stated in the record is not clear and staff said the district would report updated forecasts at the March and April meetings.
Board discussion and next steps: Board members asked for clarification on the bus estimate and health‑insurance assumptions and confirmed that monthly forecasting and March actuals would be presented in April to update the board's picture. One board member asked whether the district bids stop‑loss coverage yearly; staff said yes, and that stop‑loss is bid annually.
Votes at a glance: At the end of the meeting the board approved a motion to adjourn by voice vote; the motion carried.
