Fiscal report: per-student analysis shows shifting costs; district holds roughly $4.9M undesignated capital funds
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Summary
Finance staff presented a per-student midyear analysis showing a 5% reduction in basic-education per-student expenditures and multi-year increases in special education spending; capital projects show about $4.9M undesignated and roughly $5.3M in bond/state-match funds that require a public hearing to repurpose.
Executive Director of Finance Travis presented a midyear fiscal analysis and new quarterly reporting framework that compares year‑to‑date expenditures on a per‑student basis to prior years.
Travis said basic-education per‑student expenditures were down about 5% compared with the previous year, while special‑education spending has grown roughly 35% over four years. He also said the district has made central‑administration reductions and prioritized building‑level expenditures. On capital funds, he reported approximately $4.9 million in undesignated capital-project balances and an additional roughly $5.3 million (about $2.5M in bond-restricted funds and $2.8M in state match money) that would require a bond hearing and plan to repurpose. The district also has about $1.5M in remaining technology-levy funds and about $855,000 available in safety and security funds.
Board members asked about payroll-to-revenue ratios, monthly revenue timing (April and August as high revenue months) and the rationale for a public hearing before reassigning bond and state-match funds. Travis said staff will coordinate with bond counsel and the facilities planning process to recommend a transparent approach to any reallocation.
No final budget reallocations were approved at the meeting; board members directed staff to continue planning and to include these items in the district’s facilities and capital discussions.
