Waconia Public Schools leaders are currently immersed in a several-month process to determine budget adjustments for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with a goal of significantly improving the District's general fund balance position. As part of the process, leaders are providing this electronic survey as a way to solicit feedback from community stakeholders. Please use the form below to submit your feedback, which can include your ideas for finding potential efficiencies, decreases in expenditures, or increases in revenues. This survey will be open from Monday, January 23 until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1.
Background Information
Why is the District in its current financial position? At the end of fiscal year 2016, the District had a relatively healthy general fund balance of $3.39 million. Since that time, the District has seen a steady and sometimes sharp decrease in its general fund balance. Since the end of fiscal year 2018, the District has had a negative general fund balance.
A number of factors have contributed to the District falling into Statutory Operating Debt, including relatively flat enrollment, increased costs to mandated special education programs, increased costs to student instruction, inflationary pressures such as higher energy costs, and expenditures outpacing revenues by more than initial projections.
To learn more about the District’s financial history, please review the resources below, including a link to a School Board presentation from Director of Finance and Operations Ra Chhoth sharing some of the past history of the ISD 110 budget, including the findings from an additional audit requested by the School Board, initiated in the Fall of 2021.
Timeline
District leaders are currently immersed in a several-months process called Waconia Public Schools Resources in Education and Allocation Planning (WREAP). Click here to view the entire WREAP timeline of key dates.
“When Superintendent Gersich and Director Chhoth joined the District on July 1, 2022, they were asked to make school district finances and a long term vision to help the District emerge from statutory operating debt a top priority,” School Board Chair Dana Geller said. “The 2023-24 budget planning process that is currently in progress is important and necessary work as they move the District toward a more healthy financial position.”
Resources