Worthington board warned of possible $2M–$2.4M compensatory revenue shortfall as staff link budgets to funding codes

District leadership updated the board on budget planning and staffing alignment as the district prepares a budget for the coming year.

Joel, the superintendent, said staff have completed building‑level staffing sheets that tie each employee to specific budget codes and funding sources. He said the district faces uncertainty over compensatory revenue and is projecting a potential compensatory deficit between $2 million and $2.4 million if state rules revert to a 2023 direct‑certification method. "We're currently looking at a compensatory deficit between $2 and $2,400,000," Joel said; board members and administrators characterized the amount as roughly 25% of the district's compensatory revenue.

The superintendent said the district has an overage in a 'basic skills' fund balance that could be used to float a shortfall for about two years, but emphasized that money has tags restricting allowable uses and should be spent on students who generated it. He encouraged board members and community members to contact local legislators to describe the district's particular impact and urged that district staff will continue to refine staffing allocations linked to funding sources.

Joel flagged other state and federal risks: a governor's proposal to cut special education funding (the figure discussed in the meeting rose from $250 million to $300 million in the governor's revised materials) and potential federal education funding cuts. Those changes could affect future fiscal years beyond the district's immediate budget window.

The board asked questions about potential mitigation steps and next steps; Joel said the district expects to bring a budget to the board in June and will continue monitoring legislative developments while prioritizing restricted funds for their designated uses.