Pasco finance director reports stronger fund balances, highlights enrollment dip to monitor
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Summary
The districts executive director of financial services reported a stronger financial position compared with a year earlier: a $19.4 million general fund balance (5.88% of expenditures), $11.8M debt service fund, and a capital projects fund reduced to $50M following construction of two high schools; the director urged monitoring of a January enrollment dip and outlined plans for a fiscal dashboard and more frequent reporting.
The Pasco School Districts executive director of financial services presented the districts end-of-year close for 2024–25 and a status update for the 2025–26 budget at the Jan. 13 board meeting, reporting improved financial stability while flagging areas for continued monitoring.
Key figures presented: the district closed 2024–25 with a general fund balance of $19,400,000 (down from $24.2 million the prior year) representing roughly 5.88% of expenditures as of Aug. 31, 2025; the debt-service fund held about $11.8 million; the capital projects fund declined from $111 million to $50 million as two new high schools came online and state match funds were applied; the transportation vehicle fund ended at about $5.5 million. The presenter said total revenues collected rose to roughly $330 million and described state basic education and state special program dollars as key revenue sources.
The finance director explained the components of fund balance (nonspendable inventory, restricted carryovers, assigned savings accounts and unassigned balances), noted the district runs its food service program in the black, and described a SWOT analysis identifying enrollment trends and utility/operating costs as potential weaknesses or threats. Cash-flow charts described the annual "shape" of revenues tied to tax months and state apportionment timing; the presenter said cash flow and expenditures through Dec. 31 remain within budget and projected an improved ending fund balance near $23.5 million if current trends continue.
Board members congratulated the finance team for transparency and for building monitoring tools; the finance office said it is developing a fiscal dashboard for more current monthly monitoring and committed to frequent budget-status reporting and clear communication of large upcoming expenses and apportionment timing.
The presenter also described two enrollment lenses the district will monitor: trend and budgeted enrollment (did the district budget conservatively to meet actuals). A January dip in enrollment was noted and staff said they are investigating causes and will report back with confirmed findings.