Plymouth-Canton board approves midyear budget amendment, preserves fund-balance targets
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board approved a midyear amendment that reduces revenue estimates by roughly $2.8 million and raises expenditures by about $1.2 million, producing a projected $10.2 million use of fund balance while preserving board and auditor fund-balance benchmarks.
The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board on a 7-0 vote approved a midyear amendment to the 2025–26 general fund budget that adjusts revenues and expenditures and leaves the district aligned with board and auditor fund-balance targets.
Chief Finance and Operations Officer Jill Minnick presented the amendment and said the update aligns spending with the district’s dynamic plan and strategic priorities. "We will continue our financial surveillance," Minnick said, framing the amendment as part of routine fiscal stewardship. Executive Director of Finance and Accounting Jody Melvin walked the board through line-item changes, noting a net reduction in revenue estimates of about $2.8 million largely tied to MPSERS and categorical adjustments and an increase in expenditures of roughly $1.2 million.
Melvin said the amended totals would set revenue at $222,137,628 and total expenditures at $232,337,196, producing a projected net depletion of about $10,200,000 against the audited beginning fund balance. Minnick and Melvin emphasized that the district still exceeds the auditor-recommended 15% of expenditures threshold and the state statutory minimum of 5% of revenues.
Board members pressed for historical context on the foundation allowance and enrollment trends. Member (Treasurer) Kehoe and others framed the change as part of an ongoing structural funding challenge: "We can't continue to use this kind of money," one board member said, noting the district has relied on fund balance to support programs. Administration responded that staff will provide longer-term projections and a deeper historical chart of the foundation allowance and enrollment trends.
The board approved action item 26-02-40 on a first-and-final reading; Vice President Anupam Sidhu moved the measure and Treasurer Kehoe seconded it. The motion passed, recorded as "Motion carries 7-0." The board directed staff to continue monitoring variances and to bring additional context and scenario planning to future finance and operations meetings.