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Community criticizes use of one‑time funds as board hears budget
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the board to explain shrinking reserves and the use of one‑time funds (Clery, ESSER) to cover ongoing expenses; a commenter cited reserve erosion from 9% to 0% over eight years.
Members of the public used the budget hearing to press the board on longer‑term financial decisions and the district’s reserves.
A public commenter who identified himself as Mike said the district relied on one‑time funds — citing Clery and ESSER dollars — to finance ongoing raises and that a reserve fund fell "from 9% to 0% in 8 years." He said the decline is documented in state records and that eight districts statewide are currently in binding conditions, underscoring his argument that the district needs a more sustainable plan.
During the hearing, staff acknowledged that some numbers in the working budget were prepared before recent retirements and resignations and said final staffing and program decisions will follow board approvals. Anthony Zarazua, an English teacher at Kiona‑Benton City Middle School, also spoke to the board about the human impact of proposed cuts, urging better communication with families and noting that sports and extracurriculars give students belonging.
Board members took the concerns on the record and said the immediate vote was to adopt a balanced budget to comply with state law; several trustees said they would look for ways to preserve middle‑school sports funding as implementation work continues.
