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Livingston Parish School Board adopts final 2026 budget, debates trimming interim budget presentations
Summary
The Livingston Parish School Board adopted its final 2026 operating budget after a presentation showing roughly $272 million in projected general-fund revenue and a projected deficit largely offset by prior surpluses and restricted reserves; board members also discussed reducing routine interim budget presentations when changes are small.
The Livingston Parish School Board on Monday adopted its final operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year after a presentation from Business Manager Ashley detailing revenue and expenditure projections across the district's funds.
Business Manager Ashley told the board the general fund projects approximately $272 million in revenue — about $1.4 million more than the revised budget — and $283.9 million in expenditures, an increase of about $320,000. "We're projecting revenues of approximately 272 million," she said, and said the numbers produce a current-year general-fund deficit of roughly $11.88 million that is largely offset by prior-year surpluses and restricted reserves, leaving an undesignated surplus near $30 million.
The presentation broke down major funds and drivers. Ashley said the small revenue increase stemmed from state MFP funding, career-development state funds and a modest rise in ad valorem taxes, while higher expenditures were driven mostly by increased fuel costs for transportation and greater spending from career-development programs. She described restricted reserves set aside for items including a local stipend paid in May, special-education equipment, differentiated-compensation stipends and high-dosage tutoring.
On the district's second-sales-tax fund, which is funded by a parishwide 1-cent sales tax and 20% of a half-cent, Ashley projected about $41.7 million in revenues and $49.7 million in expenditures; she said transfers and prior-year balances leave the fund with a net surplus overall. The construction fund projects about $18.3 million in revenues and $27.4 million in expenditures, reflecting ongoing capital projects such as Southport Junior High, the Albany cafeteria project and work on the Denim Springs High School fieldhouse, Ashley said. She also reported that federal ESSER (COVID) funds have been exhausted and that federal and state program totals are reflected separately in the budget book.
After the presentation, a board member moved to adopt the final budget; Mr. Vel made the motion, Mr. Link seconded it, and the motion passed on a voice vote. The transcript excerpt does not record individual yea or nay tallies.
Before adjourning, board members briefly discussed the cadence of budget presentations. Ashley said state law allows the district to avoid additional formal presentations if revenues and expenditures stay within a 5% threshold and asked whether the board would prefer to reduce routine presentations from three (original, revised, final) to two when changes are minor. "If we don't make s significant changes, it's not necessary that we come back and present this," Ashley said. Several members noted the workload involved in producing multiple printed budget books and agreed the district could consider returning only when changes exceed the legal threshold.
The board recorded a motion to adjourn; the excerpt ends with the motion and second recorded but without a vote recorded in the provided transcript.
