Rainier SD 13 budget committee reviews 2024–25 assumptions, highlights reserves and cost pressures

Rainier SD 13 budget committee members on the evening meeting heard a line-by-line presentation of the districtdraft 202425 budget from Dr Hatrick and business staff, who said the plan relies on state school fund assumptions, a projected beginning fund balance of $2,413,101 and a minimum reserves target.

"A budget is a financial plan for one fiscal year," said Jennifer E as she walked the committee through basic budget terms, fund types and the committeerole in reviewing and approving the budget. Staff explained that the general fund remains the primary operating fund, special revenue funds typically hold restricted grants and the district does not currently operate proprietary funds.

Dr Hatrick said the district has intentionally built reserves since 2020 to maintain staffing and programs, and described the draft budget as a two-year balanced plan that maintains a minimum 8% reserve. "We now have the reserves that enable us to maximize the revenues provided by the state and provide a full continuum of services," Dr Hatrick said.

Staff described the revenue assumptions underlying the draft: work is based on the governor's biennial proposal and average daily membership weighting used by the Oregon Department of Education. Presenters cited a projected beginning fund balance of $2,413,101 and noted an expected increase in the state school fund allocation (roughly $150,000 cited in the presentation). Several numeric line items in the transcript were not stated cleanly and are recorded here only as described by staff.

On the expenditure side, the draft budget assumes an average 11.05% increase to employee compensation for 202425, reflecting ongoing negotiations with licensed and classified staff. Staff also listed several cost pressures: substitute-teacher costs, unemployment expenses (noted to increase under Senate Bill 489), an anticipated 5% increase in health insurance, and higher transportation and fuel costs. The presenters said general fund payroll and benefits are running at about 67% of general fund expenditures.

Despite a steady enrollment decline (about 2% per year since 2020), staff said total budgeted FTE increased (from 116 to 123) as grants were reduced and positions shifted into the general fund. Presenters said special revenue (grant) FTE decreased and some grant funding remains uncertain; staff reported preliminary allocations indicating roughly $50,000 increases to the Student Investment Account and High School Success funding for Rainier, but emphasized those figures could change as final allocations are confirmed.

The district also outlined planned curriculum review activities aligned with state cycles and said it will use state and federal grants where possible to support intervention programming, summer school and after-school opportunities. Facilities, including the Briercliff pool, were identified as a continuing priority; the pool budget is closed until a repair plan is developed.

Next steps: staff said the budget committee will meet again on May 28 at 5 p.m., will take public comment at that meeting, and requested committee questions be emailed by May 20 so staff can research answers in advance. The committee then plans to approve a budget recommendation for the school board to adopt.

The presentation and committee discussion were procedural; no final budget adoption occurred at this meeting. Several motions followed routine agenda housekeeping (approval of minutes and the amended agenda) and were approved by the committee.