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Board debates raising unassigned fund balance as it reviews General Fund provision
Summary
Staff presented General Fund budget provision #2 showing a projected $17M deficit and an unassigned fund balance of over $50M; a board member asked staff to prepare a three‑year plan to raise the fund balance to about $80M and suggested adding a 3% inflation rider. A motion to approve Budget #2 was recorded but the vote is not in the provided transcript.
At a Calcasieu Parish School Board meeting, a staff member presented General Fund budget provision number 2, outlining revenue adjustments through February, a state MFP reduction and changes to several allocations.
“The state MFP calculation, has a suggestion the MFP amount down by 347,000,” the staff member said while summarizing the budget. The presentation noted a $670,000 increase to janitorial allocations, a $50,000 need for security camera replacements, and a projected current deficit of about $17 million. Staff said the projected unassigned fund balance would remain over $50 million — about 12% of projected revenues.
A committee member pressed for a more ambitious reserve target, saying the $50 million balance should be increased to roughly $80 million to keep pace with inflation and future emergency needs. “I would like to make a motion that staff comes back with a 3 year plan to be able to increase our funds … up to $80,000,000 in the next 3 years,” the committee member said, adding a suggestion to “put a 3% inflation rider on that.”
Staff agreed to attempt to return with a feasibility plan by the district’s budget meeting in May. The same committee member later moved to approve Budget number 2; the transcript records the motion but does not record a second or a vote in the provided segments.
During questions, staff explained the janitorial allocation methodology: it is a square‑footage/formula calculation that factors in building additions, staffing levels, vacancies and summer workers used for floor maintenance. The transcript does not record a final vote on Budget provision #2 within the provided excerpts.
Next steps recorded in the transcript: staff will prepare the requested three‑year plan and report back ahead of the May budget meeting.
