APPROVED 03-03-2025

Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting (Monday, February 3, 2025)

Generated by Nikkol Sipes on Tuesday, February 4, 2025

1. Board Finance Committee

A. Call to Order

Mr. Kelly called the meeting to order at 2:34 p.m.

B. Roll Call

Members Present: Zen Kelly, Kelley Cizek (attended virtually), Sarah Douthit, Jason Tauriainen
Other Members present: Penny Vadla, Virginia Morgan, Patti Truesdell, Tim Daugharty, Emerson Kapp, student representative

C. Approval of Agenda

The February 3, 2025 finance committee agenda is presented for approval.

D. Approval of Minutes 01-13-2025

The January 13, 2025 finance committee meeting notes are presented for approval.

2. Finance Ongoing Business

A. FY26 Preliminary Budget

Mr. Kelly opened up the floor to Ms. Hayes to discuss the FY26 preliminary budget. Mr. Kelly opened up the floor to committee questions and proposals for the balancing act. Mr. Tauriainen proposed to show an option for increasing the revenue similar to last year's one time funding from the state legislators equal to 680 to the BSA increase. Ms. Hayes noted that you can now submit the balancing act with an unbalanced budget due to the amount of cuts that it requires to balance the budget without an increase to the BSA. Ms. Cizek agreed with Mr. Tauriainen in that there should be some sort of an addition added to the revenue side in balancing act. Mr. Kelly noted that the balancing act is merely a tool to use to assist the Board when making decisions and gather community input, however it also makes the public and those who use the tool aware of the deficit and situation the district is facing. He reminded the committee and the Board that last year the input almost always had an adjustment for revenue instead of addressing the cuts to expenditures needed to balance the budget. Mr. Tauriainen noted that Balancing Act should be more easily accessed on the website. He supported having the option to increase the revenue up to 680 but not more than that. Ms. Douthit was opposed to having the option to increase the revenue side within balancing act as it is unknown if there will be legislation passed to increase education funding. Ms. Cizek inquired whether there could be a starting point from what was proposed from the cuts proposed last year. Mr. Kelly noted that the budget deficit is much larger this year, and that the committee will be looking at three different levels of funding like it was last year. But the goal this year is gathering public input to reach the 17 million dollar deficit. Mr. Holland noted that internally being able to adjust the balancing act revenue was valuable, however not as much to gather input from the public if that revenue increase is available. Ms. Morgan agreed with Ms. Douthit that those who complete the balancing act tend to be more vested in the outcome. She also does agree with Mr. Tauriainen that it is somewhat difficult to get information regarding the revenue variables. Ms. Hayes reminded the Board of the timeline the district is under in that the District must have a balanced budget passed and transferred to the Borough by May 1. Mr. Kelly supported giving the option to increase the BSA but not over the 680 increase of one time funding that was provided last year. Ms. Truesdell spoke to reactions from the public and how to address the public regarding the budget deficit. Mr. Kelly reiterated how drastic cuts will be when balancing the budget and the fact that there are no more funds in savings to utilize like there was last year. Mr. Holland noted how the balancing act allows the district to be transparent with the public in particular regarding the budget deficit and funding. He supports having a way to increase the revenue. He is hopeful that the legislature will have a decision regarding education funding sooner rather than later in the spring. Ms. Cizek would like to see three different amounts of variables 680, 750, and 1000 much like last year in the balancing act. Ms. Douthit was in agreeance with Ms. Cizek's given amounts for the variables. Mr. Tauriainen proposed 340, and 680. Mr. Kelly supports 680, 750 and 1000 bracket for the variables in balancing act. Ms. Vadla proposed 680, 700 and 1000. Mr. Holland 340, 680, 700 and 1000. The committee would like to move forward with variables in the revenue being 680, 750 and 1000 in balancing act. Mr. Kelly inquired if Ms. Hayes had any input on adding the revenue to balancing act variables. Ms. Hayes noted that the 1000 may be too high as the public can use the tool without having to make significant cuts. Finance will repost the updated link for the balancing act with the proposed brackets by the committee.

3. Information Requests to Administration

A. Information Requests to Administration

There were no requests at this time.

4. Adjourn

A. Adjourn

Mr. Kelly adjourned the meeting at 3:26 p.m.