Preliminary 2024–25 results: district reports revenues close to budget and highlights enrollment trends

Chris Blackburn, director of business services, presented preliminary financial results for fiscal year 2024–25 at the Nov. 6 board workshop, reporting revenues within 1.8% of budget and expenditures within 0.5%.

Blackburn noted the state basic education formula remained the district's largest revenue source and that state special education aid was not prorated as earlier budgeted conservatively, producing a favorable variance. Property taxes and local levies were largely on target with budget projections. Federal dollars were a smaller portion of total revenue.

On the expenditure side, Blackburn said salary and benefits made up 76.6% of actual expenditures; services (notably transportation) came in slightly higher than budgeted while supplies and capital were close to plan. He reported the district expects to meet board policy on unrestricted fund balance (policy target 16.6%).

Blackburn also reviewed enrollment: the Oct. 28 k–12 count was 18,815 students. He noted that roughly 84 students correspond to about $1 million in state funding under the district’s formula and that enrollment trends — including lower incoming kindergarten counts in recent years — will be monitored for budget planning. The preliminary 2025–26 budget adopted earlier in the year included a nearly $2 million projected deficit; Blackburn said the district will continue monitoring enrollment, interest income and expenditures and present revised budgets as needed.

The board was given a timeline of upcoming finance milestones, including the Truth in Taxation hearing and final levy approval on Dec. 11 and the audit presentation in January.