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SFUSD deputy superintendent presents unaudited actuals, board approves GAN limit resolution unanimously
Summary
Deputy Superintendent Chris MontBenitez presented unaudited FY24–25 actuals showing a roughly $38 million structural deficit but a closer-than-planned gap vs. adopted figures; the board discussed fiscal controls, position-control and reserves before unanimously approving the unaudited report and GAN limit resolution.
The San Francisco Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the district's unaudited financial report and to adopt a resolution setting the General Apportionment Note (GAN) limit for fiscal year 2024–25, after a detailed presentation by Deputy Superintendent Chris MontBenitez and extended commissioner questioning.
MontBenitez told the board that the district's adopted June budget was roughly $1.3 billion and the unaudited actuals were about $1.279 billion, producing an actual deficit of approximately $38 million. He said the larger problem is a pattern of adding budgeted items during the year that are not ultimately spent — a trend that increases variance at interim reports and undermines fiscal controls.
"We took in $1,240,000,000. We spent $1,279,000,000, so about a $38,000,000 deficit," MontBenitez said, describing that shortfall as the district's structural deficit and attributing larger planned deficits to 'paper deficit' budgeting practices.
Commissioners pressed for specifics. Questions focused on whether variances reflect underspending tied to vacancies or true overspending, how the district will use tools and training in Frontline to monitor multi-year trends, and how position-control will be strengthened to remove legacy budget lines and reconcile vacant positions. MontBenitez described plans to hire a position-control director and a CFO with special expertise in special-education funding and to introduce a formal reserve policy at first interim.
Commissioner Fisher moved approval of item 2510-14SP1; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call with all voting members (including student delegates) voting yes. MontBenitez said improved budgeting practices, better monitoring of encumbrances and targeted training for fiscal staff should reduce variances over the next one to two years.
Next steps: staff will return with ongoing interim reports, a proposed reserve policy, and more detailed analyses on position-control and SELPA-related financials.
