Portland school finance staff report steady revenues and grant awards as year-to-date totals track to plan

Lisa Beck, a finance staff member for Portland Public Schools, told the committee that the district has collected about 32.4% of general fund, adult-education and food-service revenues for the fiscal year, consistent with where staff would expect to be about one-third through the year.

Beck said grant revenues to date are approximately $1,700,000, representing roughly 17% of budgeted grant revenues. She listed recent awards: $10,000 from the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation for athletic equipment at Portland High, $25,280 from the Preble Street Teen Center funding two adult-education teachers, and $134,553 awarded by the Portland Public Schools Foundation across 126 separate grants to support co-curricular equity and innovation projects. Beck said the new-and-renewing grant running total was stated at $729,000 and that existing grants rolled into this year total about $1.1 million.

On expenditures, Beck reported overall spending near 32% of budget year-to-date, with personnel and contracted services at about 31% and supplies at 39%. Grant expenditures were reported at about 30% and expected to rise as programs progress through the year. When asked about school-level grant bookkeeping, Beck explained that each school currently uses QuickBooks for student-activity accounts and that staff have identified audit findings; finance is exploring moving those accounts into the district Munis system to provide central visibility and consistent controls.

Board members had no further questions; Chair Bridal thanked staff for monthly financial updates and said the committee will continue to monitor revenue and grant activity.