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New CFO outlines budget work; board approves emergency apportionment advance request
Summary
CFO (Travis Belisle) outlined ongoing budget work and requested an apportionment-in-advance from OSPI to ease a cash‑flow shortfall; the board approved a resolution asking OSPI for an advance of up to 10% of the district's monthly allotment line to cover months with anticipated negative balances.
The Richland School District’s newly introduced chief financial officer presented a fiscal update and the board approved a resolution requesting an emergency apportionment advance from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
CFO Travis Belisle (introduced at the meeting) said he is preparing a series of visual budget reports to show the financial impact of underfunding for special education and other district costs. Belisle explained how OSPI’s apportionment schedule allocates a portion of a district’s annual allotment each month and that, through December, Richland had spent about 36% of its budgeted appropriations while the state had distributed about 31% of the district’s annual allotment — a roughly 5 percentage-point shortfall.
To manage short-term cash-flow concerns, the CFO recommended requesting an apportionment-in-advance from OSPI. He said the advance is not a loan: OSPI would front money early and then reduce future apportionments by the same amount (the state would retain any interest earned). The district may request up to 10% of the general apportionment line; under program rules an advanced amount is reduced by 50% from the June apportionment and repaid (i.e., deducted from) the August allocation. The CFO said without an advance the district could show negative fund balances in January, February, March and June.
The board moved and seconded a resolution (listed in the packet as Resolution 984 / petition for emergency apportionment advance). After brief clarifying questions about the mechanics — including that any interest remains with OSPI — the board approved the resolution by roll‑call vote.
Board members asked for a public timeline on the broader budget overhaul and were told an initial monthly budget update will continue and a deeper dive is scheduled for the next board meeting (February 11) with more detailed analyses to follow.
Action at a glance: - Resolution (petition for emergency apportionment advance): motion moved, seconded, approved by roll-call.
The CFO said staff will prepare materials for the community and present expanded visuals at the February board meeting.
