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Mobridge-Pollock board previews $9.85M budget, opts not to claim some IDEA reimbursements to protect state aid
Summary
At a regular meeting the board reviewed a preliminary $9.85 million budget, heard staff recommend not claiming certain IDEA reimbursements this year to avoid a reduction in state aid, and discussed use of reserves and capital projects including a proposed roof and bus purchases.
The Mobridge-Pollock School District Board reviewed a preliminary budget and staff recommended not claiming certain federal IDEA reimbursements this year because the district’s special-education fund balance is higher than state thresholds, which can reduce future state aid.
At the meeting the district’s finance lead presented the preliminary revenue picture, saying general fund revenues were projected at $9,851,938 with an estimated $480,000 increase overall. She explained that ad valorem property tax revenue would fall by about $232,000 and that state aid on the worksheet packet shows a large offset. For special education, the staff member said the district’s SPED budget is roughly $1,000,000, with last year’s expenditures near $985,000 and a fund balance that was about $340,000 at last year’s close and roughly $200,000 currently. “I’m not gonna do the reimbursement,” the staff member said of claiming IDEA funds this year, explaining that taking the reimbursement when balances are high could lower state aid next year.
The presentation included more specific line items the staff cited for next year’s federal allocations: a referenced figure of $183,000 for one IDEA line and $7,486 for the preschool portion. Staff also reviewed impact-aid estimates and student counts used for eligibility, noting that eligibility depends on the counts the district reports.
Trustees discussed reserves, transfers from capital-outlay and impact-aid treatment. Staff explained that up to 45% of certain revenues may be transferred to capital outlay and that the district has been using existing flexibility in prior years; staff said the district routinely checks cash balances and may call a special board meeting in June if the June revenue picture changes the transfer decisions.
The board framed next steps as a continued review: staff will provide a more complete packet before the formal budget hearing in July, with final adoption expected at the August or September meeting and a county deadline on Oct. 1. The session concluded with trustees asking staff for clearer spreadsheets and for more detailed revenue/expenditure rollups ahead of the hearing.
The board did not take a final budget-adoption vote at the meeting; discussion will continue at the scheduled budget hearing.
