Board says revenue rose, approves ballot language for $150 million bond (Prop H); finance update details transfers

The Francis Howell School District board on July 16 approved revised ballot language for Prop H, a proposed $150 million general obligation bond to fund construction, renovation and equipment for district facilities, and heard a monthly budget update that showed fiscal‑year revenue above earlier estimates.

President Blair moved a resolution calling a Nov. 3 election on whether to borrow $150,000,000 for facility work and to issue general obligation bonds, with the ballot language estimated to produce "no change to the district's debt service tax levy." A trustee clarified the use of "estimated" language; administration said the estimate is based on current financial assumptions. The motion passed by voice vote.

Public commenter Carl Surrey told the board operating revenue for funds 10 and 20 totaled $245,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30 — a $7.1 million increase over the prior year, driven largely by state revenue — and urged caution in messaging about state funding. "What's important at the end of the day is how much cash do we receive?... And in this case, for the state, it went up $7,000,000," Surrey said.

Deputy Superintendent Pam Erwin presented initial FY '27 budget updates and unaudited FY '26 actuals, reporting higher‑than‑expected revenue (including $2.2 million in additional local delinquent taxes and roughly $429,000 in early childhood funding) and expenditures coming in under projections. Erwin said the district plans a transfer of about $3,000,000 to the self‑insurance fund and $185,000 to the dental fund to reach recommended fund‑balance targets; final FY '26 numbers will be submitted to the state by Aug. 15 and the external audit process continues into October.

Trustees approved the finance and operations report and asked clarifying questions about Chromebook distribution timing, the point‑of‑sale transition for food services, dependent eligibility verification and whether additional transfers might be needed during FY '27 if claims exceed projections.

Administration said they had run the recommended Loomlight dependent‑eligibility verification contract by legal counsel and presented it for board approval; trustees asked about protection of personally identifiable information before approving the contract by voice vote.

The board did not adopt changes to revenue projections at this meeting; Erwin said the district will wait for final tax calculations in September before adjusting FY '27 revenue assumptions.

Next steps: the bond resolution will appear on the November ballot with the approved language, and the finance team will continue monthly budget reporting and provide updated projections after final state tax calculations.