Audit shows $13.33M general fund balance; interim superintendent outlines security and budget steps

The district's auditor presented the annual audit to the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education, reporting a general fund balance of $13,334,000 for the fiscal year and outlining how reserves and unexpended project balances affected year-end results.

"The general fund ended the year with a fund balance of 13,334,000," an auditor reported during the meeting. The auditor said that figure was down from the prior year's $14.7 million and explained that approximately $2.5 million of excess surplus was used to support operations in 2024–25. He also noted a year-end surplus deposit of $1,750,000, a capital projects fund balance of $4,771,000, and that the district recorded a long-term liability for unused sick and vacation time of $977,000.

Interim Superintendent Phillips gave the superintendent's report before the audit presentation. Phillips congratulated staff recognized as teachers of the year and educator service providers, and described several operational updates: the district has installed a visitor management system that requires visitors to show identification on entry; skilled maintenance staff contained a Nov. 20 power outage that otherwise would have caused a multi-day closure; and the district has begun the 2026–27 budget process with individual budget meetings between the superintendent and directors. "Parents along with other visitors will now have to show identification upon entering the building," Phillips said.

Board leadership announced the finance portion of the agenda includes 23 consent items and asked for a motion. The transcript ends after a call for a motion and the start of discussion; no motion text, mover, second, or formal vote is recorded in the provided transcript. The auditor's presentation emphasized the district's continued use of reserves to fund capital and operating needs and recommended consistency in surplus use going forward.

The board heard governance committee attendance and then moved toward the finance consent items; the meeting record provided ends with the request for a motion on the 23 consent items. The next procedural meeting noted in the superintendent's remarks is the January 7 reorganization meeting.