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North Platte treasurer reports balanced July, near‑flat enrollment; board hears property‑tax authority briefing
Summary
Treasurer Janelle McDonald updated the board on July finances — $1.99 million cash on hand and reconciled bank statements — and administrators discussed enrolling 3,468 students and the option to request 5% additional property‑tax authority.
North Platte Public Schools’ treasurer told the Board of Education on Aug. 11 that July financial reports were reconciled with bank statements and the district started the year with roughly $1.99 million in general‑fund cash on hand.
"In July, we received $1,093,449 with expenditures of $4,166,551.33, which brings our cash on hand forward to $1,986,752.16," Dr. Janelle McDonald said while reviewing the July treasurer's report and bank reconciliations.
McDonald noted the district had $3,439,178 in depreciation and that the building fund regained a positive balance after the sale of Osgood; the building fund cash figure shown in the packet was $378,648. She told the board the district had used a line of credit earlier in the year but that the balance had been repaid and interest/fees were summarized in the report.
The board also reviewed enrollment numbers. As of the Aug. 7 count the district reported 3,468 students, nearly unchanged from 3,471 on the same date in 2024. Dr. Rhodes said the district typically loses about 100–120 students year to year because graduating classes have been larger than incoming kindergarten cohorts. He flagged a relatively small kindergarten class (about 235 as of the morning count) but noted the small change — down three students from a year ago — was a positive signal.
The administration presented information about property‑tax request authority and the board’s option to adopt a 5% growth authority. McDonald explained that the 5% figure is an allowance the board can adopt to preserve future authority; it does not automatically increase the tax levy or budget. She said the district’s current property‑tax authority figure shown in the packet was $33,509,279 and that exercising the additional 5% authority would increase the ceiling (she estimated the added authority could be in the neighborhood of an additional $2.4 million).
"If you vote for the 5% growth rate, it doesn't mean that you are asking for an additional 5%. It just simply means that you are providing yourself an opportunity if you need the additional 5%," McDonald said.
Board members asked for historical comparisons showing the district’s past authority versus what was actually levied so the public could see whether the board has historically used the available authority. Dr. Rhodes and McDonald said they would provide a multi‑year side‑by‑side for the board and public.
Administrators also gave an opening‑of‑schools update: new teachers completed onboarding, K–9 students will begin Aug. 13 and 10–12 will join Aug. 14, and preschool begins Aug. 18 after home visits. The superintendent praised custodial and maintenance staff for preparing facilities for the new school year.
The board approved routine consent items earlier in the meeting, including new teaching contracts and audited financial claims, during a consent‑agenda vote recorded in the meeting minutes.
