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BISD CFO: General fund spending outpaces collections; trustees press for consultant breakdowns
Summary
CFO Alejandro Cespedes told trustees Aug. 31 General Fund collections total about $2.4M while expenditures are roughly $31.3M year‑to‑date; trustees requested a detailed breakdown of professional contracted services (object code 62) and consultant spending.
Chief Financial Officer Alejandro Cespedes delivered the district’s financial report for the period ended Aug. 31, 2024, and said the General Fund has collected "a little bit over $2.4 million" while General Fund expenditures are already "roughly about $31.3 million," creating a year‑to‑date deficit in that fund.
Cespedes explained special revenue (grants) are largely reimbursement based and showed about $3.5M in current spend while debt service includes $212,000 in local I&S collections versus roughly $4.6M paid in August largely for interest. On self‑insurance, collections of about $7.1M were offset by nearly $8.9M in expenses, producing a roughly $1.7M deficit. Trustees pressed for specifics under object code 62 (professional contracted services), asking whether the amounts reflect consultants, vendors, software subscriptions, or one‑time installations. Cespedes said consultants and a variety of vendors are coded to 62 and agreed to provide a consultant‑vs‑other breakdown, noting prior consultant spend reported around $1.7M in one prior presentation.
Trustees and union speakers during public comment linked the finance discussion to staffing concerns, stipends and the allocation of funds to consultants versus classroom staffing. CFO Cespedes and trustees acknowledged the district still faces a structural budget deficit and will provide requested breakdowns and follow‑up details to the board.
