Charter School Authority told to return after committee denies emergency funding request

The Committee voted to deny a request from the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) to transfer reserve funds to cover a projected shortfall after legislators questioned expenditures that continued after federal grants expired.

SPCSA staff said two MTSS contract positions were funded by grants with staggered end dates and that a personnel transition caused an oversight so one contract continued unintentionally. The authority apologized and said cross‑training and bench‑building to prevent recurrence are now priorities.

Multiple committee members expressed concern that the authority had spent money before IFC approval, particularly for a legal/contracts support position not included in the session budget. Senator Winn moved to deny the transfer and require SPCSA to return in February with a specific plan for preventing similar overspends; the motion passed with two recorded nays (Senators Buck and Titus). The SPCSA agreed to come back with precise procedures and staffing changes to provide better continuity and internal controls.

The denial prevents the reserved transfer today; the committee encouraged SPCSA to work with staff to compile the requested documentation and produce improved operational controls for agency transitions and grant closeouts.