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Board moves fund‑balance target to 8% after budget flexibility concerns
Summary
The Warrenton‑Hammond SD No. 30 board discussed a proposed 10% fund‑balance target and agreed to set the policy at 8%, citing concern that a strict 10% rule would constrain budgets that historically have dipped below that level.
At its March 3 work session, the Warrenton‑Hammond School District No. 30 board revised the draft DBDB fund‑balance policy to set a target of 8% of operating expenditures, after debate over a staff recommendation for 10%.
Superintendent Trip Goodall said the 10% figure had been presented as a guideline to cover about one month of bills. Director Mark Simonsen warned that past budgets have fallen below 10% and cautioned that "If we are going to raise it up to 10 then we can’t have a budget come to us with an 8 percent." The board discussed whether the policy should be aspirational or a strict requirement; Simonsen argued a strict 10% rule could prevent approval of otherwise necessary budgets that come in lower. Leslie Fisher of the OSBA was asked to forward the updated language to Board Secretary Andrea Holmstedt for inclusion in the policy packet.
The board did not record a formal roll‑call vote on the change during the work session; minutes show board members agreed to the 8% figure and directed staff to circulate revised policy language for final review.
