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Financial advisory council flags enrollment decline and urges rebuilding fund balance
Summary
The district’s Financial Advisory Council reported on enrollment declines, closeout of ESSER funds by September, long-term facilities, and urged rebuilding the unassigned fund balance (recommended minimum ~6.5%). FAC offered to provide focused analyses on special education/ELL funding and tax equalization.
At the start of the work session the Financial Advisory Council (FAC) delivered a detailed fiscal review and recommendations. FAC representatives summarized their role as an advisory, non‑voting body and reviewed topics from the year: enrollment projections, the use and closeout of ESSER funds (COVID relief), preliminary audit timing, long‑term facility maintenance (LTFM) activity, transportation costs and levy activity.
FAC members said the district received just over $40,000,000 in ESSER funds during the COVID period and that most allowable uses will need to be closed out by September; FAC praised administration for how ESSER funds were used. The council emphasized a long‑term concern: continuing enrollment decline is a major driver of revenue risk and the FAC recommended the board and administration prioritize enrollment stabilization and rebuilding the unassigned fund balance (FAC noted a historic target of about 6.5% of the general fund).
FAC also signaled willingness to help the district analyze special‑education and ELL funding and to produce explanatory materials on tax equalization to support potential legislative engagement. The FAC recommended continued engagement with auditors and with district financial staff to refine assumptions and modeling.
Board members asked the FAC to return with focused analyses and to coordinate with the board treasurer on priority topics for the coming year.
