Finance staff presents 'intent to adopt' budget as state budget stalls; district projects modestly positive fund balance

Justin Kaiser, the district assistant finance officer standing in for the chief finance officer, presented an "intent to adopt" budget and said the district can no longer rely on a state budget in the current calendar year. "We now know that we're probably not getting a state budget at least in this current calendar year," he said, so the presentation focused on conservative assumptions and local revenue forecasts.

Kaiser highlighted two local revenue items that improve the district's position: a county‑wide 3% increase in regular current expense funding (approximately $1,630,000) and an above‑revenue‑neutral increase in the special district tax (about $1,100,000), for a combined local increase near $2,770,000. He said the district used conservative estimates for other small revenues and factored in the recent RIF plan savings (Kaiser cited an estimated $4,000,000 impact from reductions) to produce a projected positive local fund balance of roughly $3,000,000 at year end, assuming a balanced adopted budget and the local assumptions hold.

Kaiser framed the presentation as an "intent to adopt" so the board will see the formal adoption item at the Nov. 20 meeting. He said the budget keeps a 3% reserve for compensation in place as a conservative stance in case the state later funds teacher raises.

Board members asked for clarifications about the tiered RIF approach and whether the projected fund balance is sensitive to enrollment shifts. Administrators said declining student enrollment is the district's medium‑term fiscal challenge and that staff will present further demographic projections at the December retreat.

No formal adoption occurred at this meeting; board action on the budget is scheduled for the next meeting.