Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chisago Lakes board approves preliminary levy as enrollment and audit updates are presented
Summary
The Chisago Lakes School District board approved a preliminary levy at the maximum and received updates on enrollment (including 27 students in Wildcat Academy), audit timing and budget calendar; final levy figures return to the board in December.
The Chisago Lakes School District board approved a preliminary levy at the maximum during its meeting, and Director of Business Services Robin Gosford told the board the district’s enrollment and budget reports will guide final decisions.
Gosford said the district is keeping enrollment above 3,200 students in part because 27 students are enrolled in Wildcat Academy; she told the board that without the academy the district’s head count would fall below the 3,200 benchmark. Gosford explained the difference between the monthly revenues-and-expenses report and the treasurer’s cash report, noting that audit adjustments (receivables and payables) can shift which fiscal year records reported revenue. "We're getting really good interest rates just on our savings and checking," she said, noting checking yields near 4.14% and the 'max' savings account near 4.24%.
Gosford recommended approving the maximum preliminary levy to preserve flexibility while final numbers are processed with the Minnesota Department of Education; she said the current preliminary increase is roughly 0.57% and that districts have until Sept. 30 to file final numbers. The board moved, seconded and approved the preliminary levy maximum on a recorded motion. Gosford also reviewed the budget calendar, saying administrators will meet to develop next year’s budget and the board will receive state-of-the-district presentations and individual follow-up meetings in February and March.
Superintendent Brian Dietz described a positive start to the school year, highlighted an eighth-grade mentoring program with about 25 students and local Rotarian mentors, and said district leaders have been meeting to finalize plans for a proposed bond the board will consider next month. Dietz said the district will bring bond-related recommendations to the board for formal decisions.
Gosford announced auditors will be on site late September and again in October, with additional audit activity between those visits. Final levy approval is scheduled for December following the required Truth in Taxation presentation.
Next steps: the board will consider final levy numbers in December and expects additional audit adjustments to be reflected in subsequent reports.
