Wayzata Public Schools projects $3.2 million surplus in revised 2024-25 general fund; board briefed on growth, special-education costs and facility needs

Wayzata Public Schools finance leaders told the district board at a March 3 work session that the revised FY2024–25 general fund projects approximately $3.2 million in revenues over expenditures, driven primarily by higher-than-expected student enrollment.

Scott Lesage, executive director of finance and operations, said the district revised average daily membership (ADM) used for the budget to 12,760 — an increase of 76 students from the preliminary budget — and that enrollment growth is the primary driver of the improved bottom line. “Growing enrollment is basically the big subsidizer that allows districts to continue to expand,” Lesage said.

The nut of the revision: the district expects to finish the fiscal year with a positive variance but remains cautious because ongoing cost pressures and limits on funding could change the outlook. “We know that our expenditures continue to outpace our revenues,” Lesage said, noting the FY26 formula allowance recently announced by the legislature will be a 2.74% increase.

David Drazovich, director of finance, reviewed revenue and expenditure line items behind the numbers. He said state aids are up about $1.6 million because of the higher student count and that local property-tax collections recovered from prior-year delinquencies,…