Cartwright board approves May budget revision after public hearing, members warn of long-term shortfalls

The Cartwright Elementary School District governing board voted on and approved the district’s May budget revision after a public hearing in which the district’s business manager, board members and parents discussed the district’s carryover, funding sources and the need for future cuts.

The revision increases the district’s reported budget capacity for the maintenance and operations (M&O) fund to about $118.1 million and reflects an approximately $4.1 million gain in the district’s revenue control limit tied to higher weighted average daily membership, the district’s business manager told the board during the presentation.

The budget revision matters because it shows the district has more budget capacity on paper this year but is using reserves to cover current expenditures. That mismatch, administrators said, creates a multi‑year sustainability problem that will require expenditure reductions or other adjustments.

Dr. Esbridge, who presented the May revision, told the board the M&O fund is the district’s largest operating fund and that “of the maintenance and operations fund, close to 80% is used for salary and benefits.” He said the revision reflects both a weighted ADM increase of about 485 (which he said equates to roughly $4.1 million) and an actual enrollment…