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Carpinteria Unified board approves 2023-24 unaudited actuals amid higher legal costs and special-education shortfall
Summary
The board approved unaudited 2023-24 financials showing about $614,000 more revenue than estimated but roughly $880,000 higher expenditures, including about $226,000 in additional legal fees and a $6.1 million contribution from the general fund to special education. Trustees voted to approve the unaudited actuals.
Carpinteria Unified School District trustees on Sept. 10 approved the district'023-24 unaudited actuals after a presentation by district finance staff and public comment from employee union leaders.
District presenter Jason said the closed books showed roughly $614,000 more revenue than the board—xpected in June 2024 but about $880,000 more in expenditures on the unrestricted general fund. He identified key variances: approximately $165,000 in additional federal revenue, about $161,000 in other state receipts and roughly $287,000 in local revenue. On the expenditure side, salary and benefit costs were about $188,000 higher than estimated, supplies were about $85,000 higher, and legal fees rose by about $226,000.
"When the books were closed for June 30, 2024, our unrestricted fund balance decreased by about $1.1 million," Jason said. He added the district ended the year with an unrestricted balance near $1.6 million, leaving total general-fund reserves at about 3.59%, above the 3% reserve requirement for a district of this size.
Jason also highlighted a substantial funding gap in special education: the district spent about $8.5 million on special-education services while receiving roughly $2.3 million in state and federal revenue for those services. "That results in approximately a $6.1 million contribution from the unrestricted general fund to special education," he said, calling the contribution a significant driver of the fund-balance decline.
Employee union representatives urged the board to examine rising legal fees and other expenditures. The union's representative said increased legal spending has consumed funds that might otherwise support instruction or staffing. "Legal fees have gobbled up potential gains," the union speaker said during public comment, citing several recent years of elevated outside counsel costs.
Board members moved and seconded the motion to approve the unaudited actuals; the motion passed with aye votes recorded.
Next steps: the unaudited actuals will be used in the district—udget cycle and in preparing audited financial statements. The board and staff indicated they would continue to monitor legal expenses and special-education costs as part of upcoming budget planning.
Votes and actions: Motion to approve the unaudited actuals was moved by a trustee, seconded, and adopted by the board on a recorded voice/roll-call vote.
