Stillwater board approves first revised budget after treasurer reports stronger fund balance

The Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the district treasurer's report and to adopt a first revised budget that reflects higher local property tax collections and an increased audited fund balance.

District Treasurer Christy Newby told the board the district's ad valorem estimates were up about 10 percent and that auditors reported a prior-year fund-balance figure of $7.653 million. "Instruction ' 45% is going straight to instruction," Newby said, arguing the revised budget keeps most dollars affecting classroom operations.

The revisions incorporate several technical updates: earlier-than-expected reimbursements from Child Nutrition for utilities and insurance, the receipt of federal Title allocations that arrived after last year's close, and adjustments to state aid driven by the increase in local valuation. Newby said the combined numbers would put the district's projected year-end general-fund balance at about 12.95 percent of expenditures, within the board's policy range.

Superintendent Tyler Bridges briefed the board alongside Newby, noting the district is monitoring enrollment ahead of the state's October 1 snapshot that drives midyear funding adjustments. Bridges highlighted community donations and grant awards that are reflected in the budget discussions, including local fundraising for trauma kits and a grant extension for opioid-abatement services.

Board members pressed for continued fiscal prudence. Trustees discussed the district's plan to budget close to actual collections while holding modest reserves to avoid repeated budget amendments later in the year. Newby said she intentionally left a small unspent contingency in the revised budget to reduce the need for frequent board action on small overages.

The treasurer and superintendent also warned the board of possible federal funding reductions. Newby and board members said federal proposals had included steep cuts to several Title programs; she cited proposals that at one point would zero out some programs and a house proposal that included roughly a 20–21 percent reduction to Title I. Board members urged continued forecasting to prepare for uncertain federal outcomes.

The board approved the treasurer's report and the first revised budget by voice vote. Voting members recorded as "yes" were Roberta Douglas, Rachel Dillon, Tim Riley, Dr. Kate Washington and Dr. Baker.

Looking ahead, Newby said the district would present updated, audited fund balances on the next monthly treasurer report and continue to provide line-item visibility in the online board packet so the public can follow revenue and spending.

Clarifying details recorded during the discussion include: the district received an opioid-abatement grant extension worth $225,000; auditors reported a prior-year fund balance of $7.653 million; Newby estimated the revised-budget projected fund-balance rate at roughly 12.95 percent; the board is budgeting ad valorem collections at about a 10 percent increase but is conservatively budgeting 90–95 percent of estimated collections in some funds; and the building fund includes approximately $2,000,000 budgeted for custodial and maintenance payroll in the current plan.

The board will return to budget monitoring and longer-range forecasting in coming meetings as federal and state funding discussions evolve.