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Committee hears bill to require school district reserve minimums, monthly OSPI reporting amid objections from rural districts
Summary
House Education Committee heard HB 2,593, an OSPI‑requested bill that would require districts to set minimum and maximum general‑fund reserves and to submit monthly financial data to OSPI; OSPI and sponsors say it would prevent district insolvency, while rural districts, associations and some superintendents warned caps and reporting timing risk cash‑flow and reduce local control.
A bill that would require Washington school districts to hold minimum general‑fund reserves and file monthly financial reports with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction drew support from state education officials and concern from school leaders on Monday.
Ethan Moreno, nonpartisan committee staff, described HB 2,593 as an OSPI request that would require school district boards to “include a restriction for a minimum fund balance within the district's general fund,” direct OSPI to calculate district‑specific minimum and maximum amounts, and create monthly data‑submission rules. Moreno also noted the bill would bar using restricted minimum funds for ongoing salaries and allow OSPI, under the bill, to withhold monthly apportionment payments if required data are not submitted within 45 days.
OSPI officials framed the bill as a cash‑flow and solvency tool. “This bill sets a minimum fund balance requirement, 6% for large districts, 8.5% for small districts,” Sean Lewis, OSPI’s…
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