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Enrollment rise brings new revenue but special-education costs could offset gains, finance report shows
Summary
Finance staff told the Meridian board that December enrollment rose by about 54 FTE, bringing roughly $10,800 per additional FTE (about $550,000 in additional revenue), but warned that one high-cost special-education placement (estimated between $80,000 and $100,000) could negate the gain.
At the Dec. 18 meeting the district finance presenter reported December enrollment increases that will raise state funding but flagged special-education high-cost placements as the primary budget risk.
The finance director said the district is up about 54 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students in the core program, and that OSPI funding provides approximately $10,800 in state revenue per additional FTE. "Being about 55 enrollment ... that's about 5 and a half or $550,000," the presenter said, noting the payment timing means the additional revenue typically arrives in January and is reconciled with OSPI.
The director said the district has already allocated most of the newly available funds to hires and other needs (about $510,000 allocated so far) and that special-education spending has been the largest driver of additional costs. When asked whether the new special-education cases were incoming students or existing students newly identified, the director said it was both.
The report noted the district is tracking high-cost special-education placements that can cost tens of thousands per student; staff estimated a typical high-cost placement could be "somewhere between $80,000 and a $100,000," which could push the district over the additional-revenue amount unless other changes occur. Finance staff said they will provide a follow-up update next month with more detail on how the additional revenue has been allocated.
Trustees requested a clearer breakdown of how the extra revenue is being spent; the director said staff tracks allocations and can present a more detailed report at the next meeting.
