Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District finance report: projected positive net income but cash-on-hand down to roughly 21 days
Summary
Camas School District finance staff reported a projected positive net income for the year and a projected ending fund balance around $7.8 million, but highlighted that days cash on hand have fallen from about 69 days in 2021 to roughly 21 days, prompting continued attention to reserves and cash flow.
District finance staff presented the April budget status report showing the district expects to end the year with a positive net income for the first time in several years, driven in part by expenditure reductions totaling about $3 million and higher-than-budgeted enrollment.
Key figures presented: enrollment was reported as just under a 1% drop overall, yet the district recorded an increase of about 91.43 FTE compared with budget assumptions, yielding roughly $733,000 in additional revenue. Special education enrollment increases contributed additional state revenues. Staff said the projected ending fund balance is approximately $7.8 million versus a board policy target of $10 million (about 8% of expenditures). Finance staff warned that days cash on hand have declined from 69 days in 2021 to about 21 days in April, reflecting month‑to‑month variability tied to apportionment and levy revenue timing.
The staff presentation included state auditor indicators and operating margin trends: the operating margin has ranged negative in recent months and was shown around -3.28% in the presenter’s charts. Finance staff told the board they plan to present a balanced preliminary budget next month and continue monitoring fund balance and cash flow, noting borrowing from other funds would increase interest costs and is undesirable.
Board members asked about enrollment forecasting and the potential effect of local housing developments (Dorothy Fox, properties north of CHS) on future student counts. Finance staff said demographers use formulas and recommended another demographic study in one to two years to capture new development impacts and that choice transfers remain a variable.
Why it matters: The district’s reduced days cash on hand increases sensitivity to revenue timing and diminishes the cushion for unexpected costs. While the projected positive net income is encouraging, the fund balance remains below policy targets and will be a focus during the upcoming budget process.
Next steps: Staff will present the preliminary budget at the next board meeting and continue to monitor fund balance, enrollment trends and the timing of revenue receipts.
