Mehlville R‑IX board accepts clean audit and approves budget adjustments moving excess to capital
Summary
Auditor reported an unmodified opinion and compliance with Missouri law; the board accepted the audit, approved November budget adjustments that produced a roughly $5.5 million favorable variance and agreed to potential transfers to the capital fund to support Prop S projects and future facility needs.
The Mehlville R‑IX Board of Education accepted the district’s annual audit and approved November budget adjustments that produced a significant favorable variance and will increase available capital funds.
Hope Hernandez of Miller, Oberg, Fulton & Jones presented the audit findings and issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the district’s financial statements, saying there were no material findings and that the district complied with applicable Missouri laws and regulations. The board moved to accept the audit report and the motion carried unanimously.
Marshall Crutcher, the district’s chief financial officer, outlined November adjustments for fiscal year 2026. The highlights included a roughly $2.0 million positive current‑tax adjustment tied to residential growth, a $1.0 million delayed DESE payment for early childhood, $335,000 in added federal grant revenue (offset by related expense), salary savings from eliminating nine teacher positions (about $889,000), and a $520,000 favorable variance on medical insurance renewals. Crutcher said the district’s net favorable variance across revenues and expenses was approximately $5.5 million.
Crutcher explained that much of the favorable result will increase capital funds: about $3.2 million was already moved into capital through earlier tax‑rate adjustments and the district plans a possible additional transfer of $2.1 million from the operating fund to capital near year end, with final numbers dependent on February and June adjustments.
Facilities director Mike Gegg gave a Prop S construction update, reporting most punch‑list items are complete, playground and turf installations are finished, Mosaic Elementary’s foundation and structural work are underway with a 2026 completion target, and a remaining elevator shunt‑trip and column trim are scheduled to be resolved soon.
Why it matters: The clean audit affirms the district’s financial reporting and compliance, while the favorable budget adjustments create near‑term capacity for capital projects and address Prop S carryover items. Transfers between operating and capital funds will be decided later in the fiscal year as further adjustments are certified.
What’s next: Financial adjustments will be revisited in February and at year end; the facility steering committee has an upcoming meeting (Dec. 9) to help prioritize capital spending.
