USD 383 projects enrollment dip and $3.3M added expenses as budget planning continues

District finance staff presented preliminary budget projections and enrollment figures to the board, emphasizing that numbers remain initial and subject to change pending final state reports and budget software updates.

Andy (S12) said the audited K‑12 FTE for the current year was 6,698.4, while audited enrollment was 6,491.1, and the district’s projected FTE for the coming year is about 6,613. He added the district’s weighted FTE this year was about 10,633 and estimated a projected additional expenses figure in the neighborhood of $3.3 million.

Andy also reviewed possible offsets and eligibility items: a 2.9% base increase, potential cost‑of‑living weighting that the district may qualify for, and a local option budget (LOB) set historically at 33% of the general fund. He noted savings the district expects to capture — roughly a 12% decrease in workers' compensation costs and an estimated $60,000 per year from LED retrofits — that will be factored into final planning.

Board members asked for further detail on how cost‑of‑living weighting would affect mills and requested a follow‑up that models the local impact. Andy said final software and state reports later in June/July will allow the district to refine projections and return with updated numbers at the July meeting and budget workshops.

Next steps: administration will continue scenario modeling, bring redline handbook/policy materials where needed, and present updated budget figures at upcoming workshops and the July meetings.