At the Oct. meeting the Worthington Public School District board voted to set the assigned fund balance for the 2024-25 year, approving a recommendation to move $3,000,000 from unassigned reserves to assigned funds for specific projects.

Ryan, a district staff member presenting the fund summary, said the estimated unassigned fund balance for the year is about $18,700,000 and the assigned fund balance is about $18,500,000 before the transfer. "If you did move the $3,000,000 to the assigned fund balance, it is still greater than a three-month general expense average," Ryan said, and he noted the assigned balance would remain above the district's 10% policy minimum by roughly $8,500,000.

The board heard that assigned projects include the ice arena, a potential softball field, the Prairie Elementary roof beyond LTFM funding, and potential iPad costs. Operations staff explained iPads purchased four years ago with COVID-era funds are approaching end-of-life and replacements were not budgeted in subsequent years.

A motion to set the assigned fund balance was moved and seconded (motion moved by Anne; seconded by Matt) and passed without roll-call by voice vote.

The board also approved a $5,320 allocation to a ‘‘Studio 3' fund balance" line in the same motion, and staff explained roughly $1.5 million in LTFM funding is projected toward the Prairie roof while the total estimated cost for the next phase is $2.2 million, leaving a projected local share.

Board members asked for clarity on which projects are already tagged or committed and how technology replacement obligations will be scheduled; staff said much of the assigned sum already has earmarks for past commitments and capital needs.