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District finances: administration flags property‑tax timing, $1.6M estimated FY shortfall and cafeteria price increase
Summary
The district reported March results showing ~59% of budgeted revenue received because of timing of property-tax collections, with administration estimating about a $1.6 million revenue shortfall that may shift into the next fiscal year; Quest Foods proposed a 6% cafeteria price increase and students asked about impacts on low-income families.
At the April 28 Board of Education meeting, finance director Dr. Fontana presented the district's March financials and highlighted a timing issue in property-tax collections that has left the district with roughly 59% of budgeted revenue received to date.
Dr. Fontana said total operating revenue for March was $3,822,023 and operating expenditures for the month were $2,533,091; he told trustees the district has received approximately 59.4% of its budgeted revenue for the fiscal year and that the administration currently estimates it may be about $1.6 million short in revenue by June 30 depending on late property‑tax collections. “This is an estimate since April collections are still coming in,” Dr. Fontana said.
Board members asked whether an end‑of‑year shortfall would automatically carry into next fiscal year; Dr. Fontana explained the district uses a cash basis budget and late collections would be reflected in the next audit year and could shift revenue into FY28.
The finance report also noted some account coding issues to be corrected (for example, fees coded to band uniforms and special‑education line items needing reclassification).
Separately, administration presented a request from the cafeteria vendor Quest Foods seeking a 6% across‑the‑board price increase for menu items next year, described as driven by a 4.1% change in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home plus 1.9% for labor/costs. Student Association representatives said small price increases have been noticeable to peers and asked about effects on low‑income students; administration replied that students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals would retain those benefits.
Why it matters: The property‑tax timing issue could affect year‑end budgets and may require adjustments in June appropriations or carryovers; modest food‑service price increases raise equity concerns that the district said it will monitor.
What’s next: Administration will continue to monitor collections, reclassify accounts as needed, and provide updates to the board during budget development sessions.
