Auburn-Washburn USD 437's Board of Education on June 26 approved year-end budget transfers after district staff reported a reduction in the district's final audited legal maximum budget.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the year-end transfers after the district's finance staff said the final audited legal maximum budget issued earlier in June showed a reduction of around $870,000. "We did receive earlier this month our final audited legal max budget," Brett (staff member) told the board, adding that the figure set the district's maximum authority for the general fund and the local option budget.

The transfers are a routine year-end step to close the books, but the board and staff discussed timing and process. Scott (staff member) told the board he learned at a KSTE budget workshop that the board could avoid a separate late-June meeting by delegating authority to administration for final transfers at the organizational meeting in early July. "You can make a statement in there that ' give the administration the opportunity for final budget transfers and then share those at the first meeting in July," Scott said. Board members generally signaled support for the change and staff said the district would place the statement on the July 7 organizational meeting agenda.

District staff noted enrollment will affect next year's budget. Board members were reminded that the official student-count date is Sept. 20 and that local funding is driven by enrollment. "The next big number to take a look at will be September 20, the count date of student enrollment," Scott said.

The board also heard that Burbridge, Trahan, and Company completed the district's audit and will present the audit report to the internal-audit subcommittee and then to the full board at the July 7 meeting. The board approved the transfers by motion; the motion passed 5 to 0.

Clarifying details discussed at the meeting included the approximate $870,000 reduction in the audited legal maximum budget, the Sept. 20 student-count date used to project revenues, and staff plans to finalize transfers over the summer. The audit firm (Burbridge, Trahan, and Company) will present its report to the board at the next regular meeting.

A motion to approve the year-end transfers carried unanimously; staff will continue to close the books over the summer and report final figures at the July 7 meeting.