Ball-Chatham Community Unified School District 5 Finance Committee met Sept. 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Finance Committee Board members present were Pat Phipps, Ryan Murphy, and Andrea Rediger; Superintendent Becca Lamon; and CSBO Charlotte Montgomery.
Ms. Montgomery noted that the audit presentation would be presented by the audits at next week’s Board meeting. No audit findings, no non-compliance issues, no recommendations to management have been noted by the external auditors. Ms. Montgomery noted the audit firm of Mack & Associates begins work in June with the District business office to begin compiling all the necessary information and in August brings in a large team to complete the on-site field work. The previous audit firm did not do this and routinely asked for extensions. Mack & Associates also compile the Annual Statement of Affairs which will be published in the local newspaper.
Enrollment has declined 114 students from four years ago. The Evidence based Funding Formula (EBF) has a component that factors in enrollment. The current EBF base is $8,266,393 or $1,802.29 per student. This drop in enrollment will equates to a reduction of $205,461. Dr. Lamon noted that enrollment decline is being experienced across the nation. Sangamon County in particular has experienced a decline in birth rates, so the decline may continue.
Also impacting the District Tentative budget is an increase of 30 student placement over 4 years ago. Four years ago the District spent $1,831,614 compared to an estimated $2,400,000 this year. A 31% increase in expenditures or $568,386.
This information is in addition to the notable impacts presented in the tentative budget, i.e. large increases noted for Sub teachers; para professionals; Physical Therapy, Speech and Audiology,
Occupational Therapy, Social Workers and Special Education.
FY25 budget impacts in additional to a reduction in EBF will be a reduction in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in December 2023. This will reduce property tax collections in May and June of 2025. Loss of all ESSER funds in September of 2024 will force the District to make staffing decisions.
Ms. Montgomery noted that she and Dr. Lamon have a meeting with bonding agents On September 26th.
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