Oak Park board approves first FY2025 budget amendment after audit/timing questions

The Oak Park School Board voted to approve the first budget amendment for fiscal year 2025 on Oct. 27, after a lengthy discussion about audit timing and how the district reports current spending.

Trustee Scott moved the amendment, which the board described as “necessary adjustments to revenues and expenditures to support district operations,” and Trustee Tyler seconded. Administrators said the amendment reflects current-year budget-to-actuals; Dr. Foster explained auditors’ reports cover the prior fiscal year (the year ending June 30) and therefore do not replace the district’s need to present quarterly amendments.

Trustee Crawford asked whether the board should wait for the auditors’ presentation, and Dr. Foster said a subsequent amendment would be expected after auditors release their final report. “Once the audit is released, we’ll do a final amendment based off those final figures,” Dr. Foster said, recommending January or February timing for follow-up adjustments.

Administrators also pointed trustees to the district’s publicly posted check register for line-item examples of recent expenditures; Dr. Foster read sample entries from the register to show where the monthly detail can be viewed online. Trustees pressed for easier breakdowns inside the financial statements so members can see how money was spent in categories such as salaries and supplies.

The motion passed by roll call. The board’s next steps, as described in the meeting, include returning with any additional amendments after the auditors’ final report and continuing to present periodic budget updates per board policy.