Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South San Antonio ISD March financial report shows improving outlook; projected small deficit may shrink if state funding passes
Summary
District finance staff reported year‑to‑date general fund revenue of $54.9 million and projected a year‑end general fund total of about $80 million with a projected $1–1.5 million deficit; a pending state bill could add $3.5–4 million if enacted and enrollment holds.
At the April 14 meeting, district finance staff presented the March 2025 monthly financial report showing an improved fiscal position and a narrower projected deficit.
Mr. Kingman (title not specified in the transcript) told the board year‑to‑date general fund revenue totaled $54.9 million as of March 2025, up from $48.5 million in February. March revenue was about $6.4 million, which the presenter said included roughly $500,000 in local property taxes and $5.9 million in state revenue through the Foundation School Program. March expenditures were approximately $6.3 million, bringing year‑to‑date general fund expenditures to $42.4 million. Staff said that historically the district has spent about 52% of annual expenditures by March and that current projections put year‑end general fund expenditures near $80 million, with a projected deficit between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Staff credited recent central‑office restructuring and competitive grants for improving the outlook; the superintendent told the board the district restructured about 51 central‑office positions and freed roughly $3 million for classroom and staffing priorities. The presenter also noted the district faces a historical deficit as high as $12 million in recent years and said the current trajectory could move the district to a balanced budget or small surplus next year if current trends continue.
The finance report covered other funds: the food service fund generated about $750,000 in March (15 days of service) and incurred about $800,000 in March expenditures; year‑to‑date food service revenue was $5.6 million with $5.7 million in expenditures. Staff said the food service deficit this year was partly intentional to reduce the fund balance in compliance with state regulation changes and that steps were underway to balance that fund in the coming year. The debt service fund had year‑to‑date revenue of $13.8 million, mostly local property tax and state homestead exemption aid; March collections added about $250,000, and expenditures remained at $2.2 million because semiannual debt payments occur in February and August.
Trustees asked whether pending state legislation could affect the forecast. Staff said a pending Senate Bill 2 that would increase the basic allotment by more than $400 per student could yield an estimated $3.5–4.0 million in additional revenue for the district if enrollment remains stable. Staff also said the district had preliminary enrollment projections indicating a small decline of about 50 students for next year, which would reduce any projected state aid increase proportionally.
Trustees and staff discussed federal ESSER funding: staff said the final ESSER year was the prior year and that the district accounted for that change in current projections. Trustees asked about potential competitive grants; staff said the district is pursuing a strategic staffing grant (estimated at about $120,000–$150,000 in savings if funded) and other competitive grant opportunities and that City Education Partners had agreed to contribute to the NIET contract. Finance staff closed by inviting questions and noted they will continue monitoring operations and present updates to the board.
