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Pittsburgh SD projects near-term deficits; proposes phased hire of 21 academic coaches at $3.5 million annually
Summary
District finance staff reported a current fund balance of about $85.8M and projected deficits that leave the unassigned fund balance negative by 2028 without further reductions; the administration proposed adding 21 academic coaches (13 literacy, 8 math) phased in at an estimated $3.5M per year while pursuing departmental reductions and revenue analyses.
At the committee’s second agenda item, Chief Financial Officer Ron Joseph reviewed year-to-date financials and a multi-year forecast that shows the district’s fund balance declining and a projected out-year shortfall unless reductions or new revenues are identified. Joseph said the district’s current fund balance is roughly $85.8 million (down from $110.2 million last year) and highlighted a projection that shows a paper surplus in 2028 of about $21.5 million but a negative unassigned fund balance once future commitments are accounted for, exposing the district to deficits in 2027–29.
Joseph said revenue timing and the lingering effect of property tax appeals complicate near-term forecasts: earned-income tax collections are lagging the prior year and some large downtown property appeals span multiple years and could produce refunds that affect future budgets. Legal counsel (Attorney Weiss) added that several major appeals dating to 2021–2022 remain unresolved and could still result in significant refunds. Joseph committed to produce a board analysis of appeals counts and potential exposure.
As a priority investment tied to academic goals, the administration proposed a phased plan to add academic coaches to support third-grade reading and math strategies. The district said a one-to-one coach for each school would require 56 additional coaches (estimated annual cost ~$9.5M), but the board was offered a phased alternative: add 21 coaches (13 literacy, 8 math) at an anticipated annual cost of about $3.5M. Joseph said the phased assignments will be based on student need measured by numbers of students requiring support and that coaches may be shared across schools while the district phases hires.
Board members asked about possible reductions to cover new investments, closing long-vacant positions, alternative revenue levers, and the accounting change for special-education transfers (the district moved from quarterly to monthly transfers, which makes year-to-date special-education spending appear larger in current reports). Joseph said departmental budget reviews, contract reviews and program evaluations are planned; he noted some positions were zero-funded previously when vacancies were not expected to be filled.
On next steps, the district will hold a third budget workshop on September 8 and continue departmental reviews, produce the requested appeals analysis for the board, and pursue refinement of proposals to balance investments with required reductions.
