Board opens public hearings on 2024-25 budget and LCAP; adoption set for June meeting

The San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees opened multiple public hearings May 23 to receive public comment on the 2024-25 budget, the district's fund balance in excess of minimum reserves, and the draft 2024-25 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

Business Services staff summarized the draft budget: projected general fund expenditures of about $213 million, conservative property tax growth assumptions (4% built into the multi-year projection), and the district's plan to monitor preschool funding and COLA impacts. Staff said the May Revise did not materially change the district's projections and that the formal budget adoption is scheduled for the June board meeting. Trustees asked clarifying questions about the unrestricted fund balance projection and the placeholder for one month of payroll in multi-year projections.

At the LCAP hearing staff reviewed the draft's structure: engagement activities, the annual update for the closed three-year cycle and the new three-year metrics and targets for academic achievement, equity and wellness. County office feedback remains pending for some data fields and staff noted some sections contain placeholders until June data is finalized.

No members of the public spoke for either the budget hearings or the fund-balance hearing in person or on Zoom; the hearings were closed and will be followed by formal action at the June meeting. Staff said they will return with finalized figures and any clarifications needed for adoption.