Boulder Valley School District finance staff presented a revised fiscal‑year 2024–25 budget Tuesday that reflects an increased beginning fund balance, new revenue items and higher expenditures largely attributable to one‑time carryover requests.

The nut graf: Finance director Bill Sutter said the district’s beginning general‑fund balance rose by about $21 million from prior projections because unspent authorized budgets carried forward and because of additional revenues. The revised revenue forecast added roughly $6.8 million (about $2.1 million one‑time and $4.7 million ongoing) while revised expenditures rose about $23.3 million, most of it one‑time carryover, leaving about $3.5 million of unallocated general‑fund resources.

Sutter listed the major drivers: unspent prior‑year operating budgets (carryover), higher interest earnings, a private donation earmarked for student wellness centers, Medicaid billing receipts, and state categorical reimbursements tied to special education. On the expenditure side, significant one‑time items include textbook and learning‑materials carryover, Medicaid‑related expenditures, school site operating carryovers and prepaid software contracts. Ongoing increases covered some curricular purchases and staffing to match higher resident enrollment.

Sutter warned the board that the coming 2025–26 budget outlook remains constrained: state proposals (including possible changes to averaging) and the School Finance Act provisions mean BVSD may not see significant new funding next year, and the district will need to be conservative when planning recurring expenditures. Sutter recommended the board adopt the revised budget and directed staff to bring any new information discovered before late January into the adoption agenda.

Ending: The board asked follow‑up questions about the IDEA shortfall (Sutter explained IDEA allocations are tied to total district enrollment, which can fall as overall headcount declines) and preschool funding complexities created by the state’s UPK design. Staff told the board they would submit the formal revised budget for adoption at the end of January and that adjustments remain possible through June 30 if new facts emerge.