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Finance presentation: enrollment decline, constrained reserves and heavy special education costs
Summary
District finance staff presented unaudited actuals showing enrollment down from 891 (pre-COVID) to about 794 students, LCFF funding tied to ADA, a largely restricted ending fund balance (~$2.2M), and special education costs that require significant general fund contributions.
Tara, the district finance presenter, delivered the unaudited actuals and walked trustees through revenues, expenditures and year-end fund balances. She said the district's primary revenue is LCFF, which is tied to average daily attendance, and that enrollment and ADA declines materially affect revenue: "When I started here over 7 years ago, we had, 891 students enrolled," she said, and later updated the board that she had recently "updated the enrollment report right before the board meeting. That was we were at 7 94."
Tara explained that special education costs have risen and that the district is covering a substantial share from its general fund. She said special education sits near "20–22%" of students in the district and that the district's unrestricted reserves are tight: most of the roughly $2.2 million ending fund balance is restricted, and payroll and accounts payable create near-term cash pressure. Tara outlined the audit timeline—state technical reviews now, field audit in October and an audit report expected in January—and invited board questions. Trustees accepted the unaudited actuals after discussion and a motion to approve the item.
