District adopts second interim report showing modest revenue gains, flags tightening reserves

Southern Kern Unified School District trustees voted unanimously (4–0, one absent) to adopt the district's second interim financial report, a formal update of revenues and expenditures through Jan. 31 that staff said reflects a modest revenue increase compared with last year's adopted budget.

Presenter Mr. Erving told the board the district's revised revenue figure is $70,514,103, up from an original adopted amount near $67.6 million. He said higher property tax receipts and a state student discretionary block grant created after the district's prior budget contributed to the increase. Mr. Erving also read an estimated ADA figure in the presentation that was recorded in the meeting transcript as "33,345.55." He described overall expenditures as higher than at first interim, driven largely by salary and benefits, which he said make up about 73.1 percent of total budgeted expenditures.

The staff presentation outlined a supplemental concentration (reported in the materials as roughly $12,900,000 for the current year with projected growth to about $13,000,000 next year) and warned that, absent adjustments, multiyear projections could tighten reserves. Mr. Erving described the district's goal of maintaining the state minimum reserve of about 3 percent and said staff would continue to refine estimates after the May revision to the state budget.

A trustee asked for validation of figures on a revenue slide and staff confirmed the presentation numbers. The board moved, seconded and approved the second interim report by voice vote. The board directed staff to monitor multiyear projections and report updates as state budget data becomes available. The motion passed 4–0 with one trustee and the student representative absent.