District finance staff proposes to shift pre‑97 reserves to food service, citing two years of free meals

Albany County School District #1’s finance staff told trustees during the work session that an upcoming budget amendment will move pre‑97 reserve funds into the district’s food service subsidy and accelerate several facility expenditures into the current fiscal year.

Miss Green, the finance presenter, reported activity funding totals for the current year at roughly $36,387,963 and projected $35,447,833 for next year. She said the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) narrowed recapture of interest on general funds, cutting the district’s potential hit from about $500,000 to roughly $200,000.

On the budget amendment, Miss Green said the district plans to transfer pre‑97 reserves to increase the food service subsidy, estimating the transfer at about $1.7 million so the district “will feed kids for free for sure for the next 2 years.” She said some facility needs that were expected in the next fiscal year now require funding this year and will be included in the amendment.

Miss Green also asked trustees to consider a list of top priorities for the upcoming legislative session; she said two priority items are removing a funding silo and restoring flexibility to use leftover funds for facilities and construction. Trustees did not vote on the amendment during the work session; Miss Green said she will return next week with a formal amendment for board action prior to June 30.

The board did not adopt the amendment at this meeting; trustees asked staff to provide the specific amendment language and additional detail on facility items when the amendment is brought forward.