Academy District 20 sees modest per-pupil revenue gain; officials urge conservative budget planning
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Summary
Superintendent and finance staff told the Board of Education that per-pupil revenue could rise about $307 but that funded pupil count and averaging changes mean the district should plan conservatively for 2025–26.
Academy District 20 Superintendent Haber and Chief Financial staff presented a preliminary revenue outlook showing a modest per-pupil increase and a small projected enrollment decline as the board begins budget work.
Finance director Becky Allen told the board the introduced School Finance Act projections show roughly a $307 increase in per-pupil revenue (about 2.87%), but she warned the district is projecting a 43-student head-count decline next year and is planning conservatively for funded-pupil-count averaging changes.
Board members heard that the net new funding expected to flow to the district under the current projections is about $5.2 million after charter pass-throughs; the gross increase before charters is roughly $6.7 million. Allen cautioned that the legislature had not completed work on the School Finance Act at the time of the presentation and the district is building assumptions that could be updated in May and at the mid‑year true-up.
Why it matters: The board must adopt a budget in June, and administration said the district is prioritizing salaries and benefits while avoiding multi‑year commitments that could be unsustainable if state assumptions change. Allen described using a conservative averaging assumption for funded pupil count as part of that caution.
Details: Allen explained that this year’s funded pupil count is artificially buoyed by a prior four‑year averaging method and that changes in averaging rules would materially affect funding. Because of that uncertainty, staff said they were assuming a two‑year averaging approach while preparing the proposed budget and asked the board to expect final numbers at the May 8 proposed budget presentation and again at the mid‑year true up.
Clarifying context: Allen noted the state budget remains under pressure — she said the state’s budget shortfall is approximately $1.16 billion — and that governors’ and legislators’ proposals had at times shifted enrollment‑averaging approaches. The presentation included approximate dollar comparisons to the prior year to show the district’s spending flexibility; Allen said a 1% salary increase equates to about $2.1 million for the district.
Board procedure and next steps: Board members asked questions; Allen said administration would provide the proposed budget on May 8 and the board would consider adoption in June. Board members and members of the public urged clear public notice and multiple meetings to review the budget before final action.
Ending: The presentation closed with staff advising the board that more precise figures could arrive late from the legislature and that the administration would return with updated numbers at the May proposed budget and again when the district does its formal true‑up.
