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Lancaster board hears interim budget showing restricted-fund deficits, approves stabilization plan
Summary
A business-services presenter told the board that 2024-25 revenues total about $271.5 million while budgeted expenditures reach about $305.6 million, driven by liquidation of prior one-time restricted funds; trustees approved a fiscal stabilization plan and multiple budget-related resolutions.
The Lancaster School District board heard its first interim budget report for 2024-25 on Dec. 17, during which district finance staff outlined multi-year projections showing deficit spending tied primarily to the liquidation of one-time restricted funds.
Maria, the district's business-services presenter, told trustees the district's 2024-25 revenues total about $271.50 million and that budgeted expenditures are about $305.55 million, producing a near-term deficit driven by spending down previously received restricted revenue. "We are only deficit spending on the restricted," Maria said, noting that one-time federal and state funds were liquidated in compliance with grant rules.
The presenter described components of the budget: roughly $73.77 million in certificated salaries, $32.41 million in classified salaries, and approximately $10.27 million in capital outlay among unrestricted expenditures. She said the district began the year with a $163.8 million fund balance and projected an ending 2024-25 balance of about $130.26 million after assignments and reserves.
Trustees pressed for clarification about the projected drop in restricted funds over the subsequent two years. Maria explained that the decline reflected planned liquidation of multi-year one-time funds and that the district had included assignments and a reserve for economic uncertainties to remain conservative. "We have a fiscal stabilization plan that you will be approving," she said.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the fiscal stabilization plan for 2024-25 and to approve related budget resolutions, including certification and verification of authorized signatures and the annual accounting of developer fees. Trustees also received an enrollment update showing a total district enrollment in the mid-14,000s, a 30-student decline since the prior meeting and a year-over-year drop of about 166 students.
The board's approval leaves the district with a positive certification at the time of the presentation while directing staff to monitor restricted-fund liquidation and ongoing negotiation outcomes that could affect future budgets.
