This is the first of two posts that will highlight the positive momentum we have established over the last few years and my commitments going forward.
First topic: Our Budget
To be blunt, if you take a look at the District's budgets before 2021, it wasn't good. We were running structural deficits every year and when the actual numbers came back, the situation hadn't improved. This was a big concern for me when I ran in 2021 because it was something that was just simply not sustainable. I'm proud to say that for each of the District's budgets that I had the opportunity to vote for while on the Board, we had a truly balanced budget. I'm also pleased to say that because the District took a proactive approach to managing our costs, we were able to end up with a surplus and the ability to add to our Fund Balance.
My commitment to this community is to continue to be fiscally conservative and maintain the current trend we are on with regard to balanced budgets.
Next... Our Fund Balance
The Fund Balance is a point-in-time measurement of the District's "savings account." In other words, it measures our assets vs our liabilities at any given time. Having a healthy fund balance means that we are in a position of strength financially. Heading into the late 20-teens, our fund balance had been decreasing due to the District running structural deficits - our revenue was being exceeded by the costs year after year. Because we have been focused on eliminating unnecessary costs (with little to no impact on our students), we have been able to increase our fund balance from a low of 6% in the 2020/21 time period to about 14% now.
Continuing to add to the fund balance will also allow us to avoid having to do any short-term borrowing. A few years ago, we had to go to market to borrow twice a year. We are near the point where we will not have to borrow and take on those interest costs. My commitment to this community is to continue to make attempts to add to our fund balance so that we are on sound, solid ground financially for our District, but most importantly for our taxpayers.
The primary is on February 20th! Please make plans to head to the polls on that Tuesday and vote Pawlak!
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