Finance chair warns state budget delay could squeeze districts; Saline reports three months of reserves

Tim Austin, chair of the board finance committee and the board treasurer, told the Saline Area Schools Board of Education the committee discussed the state budget impasse and a survey showing some districts would not be able to make payroll if an October payment is withheld.

"Miranda mentioned that they did surveys, bunch of schools, and I think, like, 200 and some schools responded. But 43 of the 43% of the respondents said if they do go into, like, a shutdown, they would not have if they don't get the October payment, they would not have enough money to make payroll," Austin said. Another board member later clarified Saline was not among those districts that indicated an inability to meet payroll.

Austin said district auditors reported no current findings and that the district expects the audit to come to the full board in November. He also said the district is tracking better-than-budgeted enrollment and is likely to be better than the amended budget on fund balance.

Board members and staff said the district currently has roughly three months of operating reserves in its fund balance, which places Saline in a stronger position than some districts during the state budget delay. The board asked district staff to continue monitoring the situation and to report updates as state budget information becomes available.

Ending — The board asked staff to keep watching the state budget process and bring updated financial information to future meetings; no board action was taken at the meeting on finance items.