District reports enrollment above budget, ending fund balance trending higher than planned
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Summary
CFO Ashley Murphy reported Oct. 2025 enrollment of 8,380.4 students — about 172 over the budgeted 8,208 — and said the district’s preliminary fund-balance trend is above the budgeted target, though final year-close numbers will be presented at December year-end review.
Ashley Murphy, the district’s chief financial officer, told the board on Oct. 21 that the October 2025 enrollment count stood at 8,380.4 full‑time‑equivalent students — 172 students above the budget assumption of 8,208 for the 2025–26 budget.
Murphy said the district’s ending fund balance trend, as currently reported, is above the board’s budgeted target (board goal 4–6 percent) and that final financial statements for the prior fiscal year are being closed. She warned the board the August figures in the presentation are interim and that the district must complete accruals before the final year-end presentation in December.
Why it matters: Enrollment drives state apportionment dollars and affects staffing, program funding and levy planning. The district’s enrollment increase both versus its own budget and relative stability compared with neighboring districts was presented as a positive indicator for preserving program investments.
Murphy summarized revenue and expenditure categories: overall revenue collections were slightly over budget at about 102.1 percent, with local sources and state sources above budget and federal revenues lagging (federal at about 85 percent pending later claims). On expenditures, the district’s ending fund-balance percentage was reported at about 7.06 percent (slightly above board goal); total expenditures were about 104 percent of budgeted expectations at the time of the report.
Murphy and board discussion noted that last year’s state funding included competitive state grants and that federal grant timing (claims accrued in Sep–Oct) affects the current percentage. She said total ending fund balance at the time of the presentation was roughly $11.6 million prior to remaining accruals.
Murphy highlighted grade-to-grade shifts: declining elementary cohorts (notably second and fifth grades year-over-year) are visible, but increases at secondary grades (sixth and ninth) produced a net enrollment gain of about 76 students compared with the prior year. She called out a notable increase in kindergarten FTE (+28.5 FTE over last year) as an encouraging early‑pipeline sign.
Board members discussed statewide enrollment declines in other districts, the impact on staffing and the need for conservative staffing plans. The finance team will continue closing prior‑year books and present final figures in December.
Ending: Murphy said the district will finalize financial statements and present a year‑end review in December; board and staff emphasized the need to monitor enrollment and federal/state funding developments as the district completes the year-close process.