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Committee reviews finances, flags special education cost pressures and trust fund use
Summary
Staff told the committee the district is about 62% through its fiscal year spending, highlighted high encumbrances in contract services (over $1,000,000), said out‑of‑district tuition may be over budget by about $800,000, and outlined plans to draw on a $3,000,000 special education trust fund and propose moving operating budget lines for next year.
At the March 16 meeting, district finance staff walked the Finance and Operations Committee through monthly financial reports, flagged contract services and tuition‑out‑of‑district pressures, and described trust fund and special revenue options for covering special education costs.
Staff said the two‑digit roll‑up report showed the district had spent roughly 62% of the overall budget with four months remaining in the fiscal year. "We have spent about 62% of our overall budget," the staff member said, and noted this is typical for the time of year. The staff member called attention to the professional and technical services line (the '50‑3' contract services bucket), which shows a higher percent used — about 80% — in part because there is just over $1,000,000 encumbered against contracts.
Committee members asked about the trust fund and special revenue accounts. A staff member explained these accounts are set aside for specific purposes and roll over year to year. The staff member noted the board previously sought a $3,000,000 special education trust fund and said, "from an overall fund balance standpoint, there's about $3,000,000 sitting in there." Staff said they expect tuition revenue for fiscal 2026 to be about $1,200,000, but warned the out‑of‑district tuition line (account 55694) was unpredictable and could be over budget by roughly $800,000 this year; last year it was about $1,000,000 over budget.
To respond, staff said they proposed raising the operating line for next year to $7,200,000 and adding $1,000,000 in special revenue for out‑of‑district tuition — a combined $8,200,000 — reflecting recent multi‑year spending between $7.0M and $7.6M. Staff said they will present a larger forecast in April and bring recommendations for drawing from trust funds if needed.
The committee approved the January and February transfer reports as presented. Staff and members asked to return in April with a high‑level overview of special revenue accounts and to discuss deferred maintenance and capital planning with facilities staff later in the spring.
