Finance director flags $1.29 million net decrease, large cuts to purchase services and equipment

Hope Gibson, the district’s director of finance, presented a line-by-line comparison of the general fund and told trustees the district’s final approved budget figures show a net decrease of about $1,290,911 for FY25-26 compared with FY24-25.

Gibson highlighted two areas of emphasis: purchase services and equipment. "I put emphasis on purchase services, which was $4,457,997," she said, and noted purchase services for FY25-26 were budgeted at $3,334,286. She also said equipment fell from $189,686 to roughly $23,186 in the next fiscal year.

Trustees asked how the district had accounted for an estimated enrollment decline of 159 students. Gibson said projections were included in the FY25-26 figures and that the precise revenue impact will be confirmed after the state 135th‑day and 45th‑day counts in January. "That cost will be noted in January," she said. Several trustees requested the per‑student revenue figure and a clearer explanation of which cuts represent actual position eliminations versus reclassification to purchase services.

The finance presentation included a full description of the budget development timeline, with first readings in March, a second reading in April and a final review in mid‑June; Gibson emphasized that salaries and benefits usually make up about 85% of the general fund. Trustees asked for a line‑by‑line printout and itemization of purchase‑service expenditures before approving additional transfers or reallocations.