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Rainier SD 13 business officer warns of several‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar shortfall as enrollment falls
Summary
Business manager Bryce Baumgartner told the Rainier School District 13 board the district faces a projected revenue shortfall (about $100,000–$500,000) and notable year‑to‑date variances between revenues and expenses; trustees were briefed on cash‑flow risks and potential cost‑saving steps. Votes to approve the agenda and consent agenda passed 6–0.
Bryce Baumgartner, the district’s financial presenter, told the Rainier School District 13 board that the district is facing meaningful revenue pressure tied to declining enrollment and lower than expected local tax receipts.
"We're currently behind on budget," Baumgartner said, guiding trustees through a handout and a six‑month cash forecast. He said state school fund receipts are estimated at about $1.5 million for the remainder of the year and that a conservative reading produces a projected revenue shortfall "around $500,000," with a year‑to‑date variance between revenues and expenditures of roughly $766,000.
The finance presentation outlined several drivers: lower ADM and enrollment than budgeted (which reduces state funding), one large transportation invoice paid in January, and timing differences between accounting ending fund balance and actual bank cash. Baumgartner said the accounting ending fund balance is roughly $1.4–$1.5 million while projected bank cash at year end may be closer to $650,000–$700,000.
Baumgartner proposed a mix of near‑term cost controls and operational fixes. He described creating about 15 new standard operating procedures to document financial workflows, recovering primary administrative access to QuickBooks and exploring vendor "quick‑pay" discounts that could yield modest annual savings (he estimated a few tens of thousands of dollars in total if adopted broadly).
Superintendent Holloway placed the finance briefing in context of state budget uncertainty. Holloway said the district is monitoring several legislative items — including possible recalculations of state school fund payments and changes that could affect SPED funding — but cautioned trustees that a final state budget could arrive as late as mid‑May or early June, which compresses local budgeting timelines.
The board approved routine meeting business at the start of the session: Ms. Richardson moved to approve the agenda (second noted by Mr. Ginto) and the board approved it by voice/hand vote, recorded as 6–0. The consent agenda was similarly approved (motion by Ms. Richardson, second by Mr. Rice, vote 6–0).
What happens next: Baumgartner said he will continue refining the provisional 2526 budget, complete SOP documentation, and pursue operational savings. The district's budget committee meeting is scheduled for April 21; trustees will review budget details as the state funding picture clarifies.
