MLSD projects 2023-24 enrollment increase

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District is projected to have the equivalent of about 8,299 full-time K-12 students for the 2023-24 school year. Moses Lake School Board members reviewed the preliminary budget at the regular meeting Thursday.

Director of Finance Stefanie Lowry said district officials don’t anticipate much change, if any, between the preliminary and final budgets. The budget will be approved at the board’s Aug. 24 meeting.

“Enrollment is the biggest driver in our funding,” Lowry said.

Enrollment grew almost every year over the last decade, Lowry said, until the 2020-21 school year and the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment dropped below budget projections for the next two school years but was above the projection for 2022-23.

Over the last two school years, enrollment increased by an average of the equivalent of 250 students per year, she said.

For 2022-23, district officials had projected the equivalent of 8,030 students. Actual enrollment was the equivalent of 8,238 students.

“We are budgeting a very conservative increase,” Lowry said. “We have always traditionally budgeted this way just so that we don’t end up in a position where we’re overstaffed.”

The majority of school operations are paid for through the general fund, which includes staff salaries, some maintenance, supplies and equipment, among other things. For 2023-24 the general fund will be budgeted at $152.3 million in expenses.

“Eighty-two percent of our expenditures are on our salary and benefit packages,” Lowry said.

The debt service fund pays back off the construction bonds approved by district voters. For 2023-24 it’s budgeted at $8.02 million.

Lowry said that’s higher than projected revenue, which is $7.03 million. The district has enough in the fund to cover the difference. Lowry said the taxes which pay back the bonds are collected in a calendar year, and the budget is based on the fiscal year.

For 2023 the payment will be about $4.1 million, and the principal payment will be about $2.6 million in 2024, she said.

Capital project fund expenses were budgeted at $37.9 million. That includes paying expenses associated with the construction of Vanguard Academy, as well as costs associated with the construction of the new elementary school in Mae Valley. The elementary school project is projected to go to bid in late fall.

The Associated Student Body fund was projected at about $743,700.

“This is all student-generated money,” Lowry said.

The ASB fund is used to pay for student activities at elementary schools, as well as middle and high schools.

The transportation vehicle fund pays for new school buses and other vehicles and can only be used for that purpose. For 2023-24 it was budgeted at about $765,700, which includes the purchase of five buses.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

MLSD projected 2023-24 budget expenditures

General Fund: $152.47 million

Capital Projects: $37.93 million

Debt Service: $8.01 million

Transportation Vehicle: $765,300

ASB: $743,700