Board hears budget update: $2 million indirect‑cost transfer, summer camp grant and a proposal for a 2% staff raise

Finance staff presented updated revenue estimates and several fund amendments during the board’s work session.

Staff described an internal budget adjustment that moves approximately $2,000,000 into the centralized cafeteria fund (fund 141) to account for indirect costs calculated under state guidance. The board also reviewed a summer camp grant allocation reported in the presentation as $5,556,938 to support summer learning‑loss remediation efforts required by state law for rising K–8 students; staff said there is no local match requirement for the grant and that transportation costs are included.

Staff reported new revenue figures received from county finance that improved the district’s position: a previously projected $13,576,000 deficit is now approximately $9,900,000, driven by changes across property tax, local option sales tax and other revenue lines. Staff told the board the revised projection allowed inclusion of a proposed 2% across‑the‑board staff raise in the current budget draft but cautioned that final tax‑rate and reappraisal data from the county could change the picture prior to formal adoption.

Board members and staff discussed rising insurance and bus‑contractor costs and asked staff to model options (for example, $500 or $1,000 per policy changes) to present at the Thursday budget meeting; staff noted some increases (including an 11% overall insurance increase) and said the district planned to cover approximately half of certain umbrella premium increases.

No final budget vote was taken at the work session; staff will bring the updated numbers and salary scale for formal action consistent with statutory deadlines.