Business office flags transportation pressures, encumbrances and FY23 audit findings
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Summary
The district’s business office reported a tighter budget position this fall, with transportation and special-education expenses stressing encumbrances. The FY23 audit identified reconciliation and grant-compliance items; staff outlined corrective steps and potential grant opportunities.
The John Stark Regional School District business office on Tuesday told the school board that the district’s fiscal position is tighter than last year and that several expenditure lines, particularly transportation tied to special education and McKinney-Vento services, are running high.
Chris, the business office representative, reviewed the reconciliation and current expenditure picture and cited an expenditure figure of $479,729.56 on the report. He said a significant contributor to the current position is health insurance budget timing and encumbrances for athletics and special-education services; the report shows several lines that are expected to be spent before year end.
On transportation, Chris said the negative position is “mainly contributing between special education transportation and McKinney Vento needs,” and that the office expects to pursue grant reimbursement opportunities and to implement accounts-receivable tracking in the district accounting system to more clearly align revenue timing with expenditures.
Chris also summarized FY23 audit findings related to the staffing shortfalls at that time: untimely bank reconciliations, reporting gaps for retirement-system contributions, delayed student-activity deposits and grant time-and-effort documentation. He said corrective steps are underway and acknowledged an auditor suggestion—outside the written report—that the district consider adding business-office staffing to improve controls.
Board members asked whether revenue numbers submitted to the Department of Revenue were final and whether grants, including a transportation grant, might provide $30,000–$40,000 in relief. Chris said he expects some additional grant money could reduce transportation pressure but cautioned that those funds were not yet confirmed.
No formal board action was taken; Chris said staff will continue to refine encumbrances and present a deeper budget breakdown at the district’s budget workshop next week.
