Board hears budget update showing stable position but staff flag $2 million revenue shortfall

Pulaski County School Board members on June 9 received a fiscal update showing revenues and expenditures roughly aligned as the fiscal year winds down, while staff signaled ongoing revenue pressure tied to state enrollment funding.

Miss Morgan Scalar, presenting the budget analysis, told the board that as of May 31, 2026 the district had collected approximately $59.5 million in operating fund revenues and had spent about the same amount. "The division remains in stable financial position as of May 31st, 2026 with expenditures aligned to available revenues and fund balances remaining sufficient across major funds," she said.

Scalar told members that because state revenues based on enrollment have come in lower than expected, the district’s current projections show roughly a $2 million shortfall on those state distributions. "When I looked last at the final distributions for the state revenues, we were at about a $2 million deficit," she said. District staff said they were monitoring expenditures and maintaining spending controls while evaluating final revenue figures.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the remaining fund balance and whether the percentage of remaining funds was appropriate with only weeks left in the fiscal year. Scalar reported that county contributions were tracking within expected ranges and that approximately 8% of the fiscal year remained at the time of the report.

The presentation did not include a request for additional appropriation at the meeting; staff said they would continue monitoring revenue and expenditure activity and report back to the board as final figures become available.