GF school officials to launch budget exercise

The Grand Forks School Board will get a crash course on budget planning during a work session following tonight’s (Monday) regular meeting.  Members will be tasked with crafting a so-called Guiding Change Document.

According to a staff report the goal is to develop a shared understanding on budget commitments that the administration can use to develop both short and long-term scenarios.

Business Manager Scott Berge told board members during a budget briefing last week the district’s fund balance needs to be addressed.  Berge says a healthy fund balance is 15% of annual expenses. That’s around $17.25 million dollars for the Grand Forks School District. The general fund balance on May 31, 2001 was $338,000.

Berge adds the 2021-22 general fund budget is a “breakeven” spending plan but you can’t be “status quo.”  He says one major facility need would force the district to dip into the general fund and right now there isn’t much to dip into.

The regular board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

GF School graphic