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Board approves using facilities fund to cover maintenance staffing to preserve general fund
Summary
Trustees approved transferring part of the school facilities (Fund 435) balance to cover maintenance staff salaries and benefits this fiscal year to stabilize the general fund and avoid an immediate levy increase; staff explained statutory 'waterfall' uses and anticipated continued use for planned facilities projects.
The Moscow School District Board of Trustees voted March 25 to authorize the use of school facilities fund (Fund 435) resources to pay maintenance staff salaries and benefits for the current fiscal year, a move district staff said will protect the general fund balance and postpone any immediate levy increase.
District staff explained the statutory "waterfall" that governs school facilities funds and said the district has been using the fund conservatively; once bond obligations are met, remaining Fund 435 resources may be used for construction, renovation, maintenance and certain staff costs. Staff said the district’s bond-related payment relief totals roughly $650,000 (an amount discussed as part of the waterfall example) and estimated available Fund 435 resources in the low seven-figures after required obligations.
"What I'm proposing ... is that we actually do use those facility funds rather than just keeping them in savings," the superintendent told trustees, explaining the move would pay maintenance staffing this year and provide flexibility for next year’s budgeting. The superintendent and finance staff said the transfer would not fully exhaust facilities funds but would cover a portion of projected maintenance costs and allow continued planning for roofing and other capital needs.
Trustees discussed the proposal’s budgetary implications, the district's past reliance on lottery-match funding (which has shifted into facilities funding), and the effects of recent unexpected costs such as the district’s cyber incident. After discussion the board voted to approve the transfer; the motion passed unanimously.
District staff said they plan to present a budget for next year that continues to use Fund 435 for both staffing support and targeted facility projects; staff will return with project-level recommendations and any required policy clarifications.
The board did not specify exact dollar amounts to be transferred in the motion; staff characterized the near-term transfer as a partial use of Fund 435 to support maintenance operations and capital planning.
