Budget Process and Strategic Financial Plan are on the table this week
The Salida School District Board of Education is inviting community members to participate in their financial planning process in one of two upcoming sessions. According to the district, board members and staff are facing increasing financial challenges and want community input to help with prioritization for both operational and capital needs.
Two sessions have been scheduled, keeping in mind the availability of many working adults:
10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Tony’s Waffles and Coffee at 122 East First Street, Salida
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 50 Burger, 445 East U.S. 50, Salida
Those interested are asked to RSVP to Kim LeTourneau, School Board Secretary, kletourneau@salidaschools.org to hold a seat.
Why now and why is this important to Salidans?
The full details of the meeting’s purpose and desired outcomes are here. In short, the board will define their budgeting assumptions, definitions, and the process itself. Beyond that, they plan to help level-set community expectations with the realities of today’s school funding sources, cash flow timing and inflation trends.
According to the district, it is becoming apparent that even with keeping overhead low, while attracting and maintaining the best teachers, and juggling the demands of current and future capital needs, financial pressures are mounting.
Strategic reductions in the unassigned General Fund balance have been previously used to help offset years when expenses exceed available revenues. This is no longer viewed as a viable budgeting tool. According to the meeting packet, “The current models [of fund transfers] predict between double and triple what the Board is putting aside.”
The invitation from the Salida School District makes it clear: listening to community priorities and being realistic about what can be accomplished are keys to long-term success — and now is the time.
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