Preliminary budget shows $1.04M shortfall; board asks for staffing breakdown before approval

Finance director Patty Frank presented the district's preliminary budget book and noted the proposed expenditures exceed projected revenues by $1,038,941; staff indicated the difference will be covered by designated fund balance and one-time sources (grants and one-time Apple buyback funds).

Frank explained the estimates depend on outcomes that are not yet final — the third Friday pupil count, equalized property values and voucher amounts — and noted the state bianual budget contained no general school aid increases but increased special-education categorical aid in principle (reimbursement percentage remains uncertain). She summarized revenue and expenditure assumptions and said the preliminary levy estimate is $7.51 per $1,000 of assessed value (an increase of about $0.26 from last year, roughly $26 annually on a $100,000 home using current assumptions).

Board members asked for clearer, itemized information on staffing: how many positions the budget assumes (by employee group), how many positions are currently filled, and where vacancies exist. One board member said page 45 had been interpreted as actual positions in place rather than budgeted positions and asked staff to supply a staffing reconciliation (positions budgeted vs. positions filled and projected hires). Staff agreed to provide that breakdown in time for the board's October budget review and for the public budget hearing.

No final levy or budget vote was taken; the board will receive revised numbers after the state's October data and the district's third-Friday submission.