The Lucerne Valley USD had more than $27 million in revenues during 2022-23.
Sound fiscal planning and management have continued to put the Lucerne Valley USD on solid footing and provide opportunities for an array of programs, capital improvements and technological upgrades.
That is the conclusion of the 2022-2023 Unaudited Actuals report given during the September 14th meeting of the Lucerne Valley USD Board of Trustees by Olga Fisher, Assistant Superintendent - Business.
The district’s revenue for 2022-2023 was $27.6 million with the largest funding coming from California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) at $13.4 million. Additional state funding amounted to $5.4 million with federal funding for the period at $4.8 million and locally-generated funding at $4.2 million. The latter category also includes property tax revenues and around $3.5 million from the district’s charter school revenue, according to Ms. Fisher.
District expenditures for last school year came to $25.4 million. Certificated employees accounted for 29% of that and came to $7.3 million, and $3.5 million, or 14%, was spent on classified employees. Benefits made up 21% ($5.3 million), and capital projects were 19% ($4.9 million) of the expenditures.
“We’ve had quite a few improvements,” Ms. Fisher said. “This past year we were really focused on improving our facilities and our buildings at both school sites, making sure we are upgrading and going where we need to be for the future.”
Capital improvements included upgrades to school bell systems, security cameras, internet fiber optics and other technology improvements along with new infrastructure such as new buildings and classrooms.
Other pieces of the financial pie were services ($1.8 million, or 8%), supplies ($1.5 million, or 6%) and “outgo” ($637,531, or 3%).
Ms. Fisher, who joined the district earlier this year, said the district is carrying $2 million forward from 2022-2023. Along with the $4 million carried forward from the previous year the district’s ending balance is now $6 million. The $6 million is broken down as $100,000 in revolving cash, $1.6 million in restricted funds — which is mandated by the federal government — $1 million is designated for economic uncertainty, $1.9 million is assigned to different improvement projects, and $1.6 million is undesignated. An amount of $500,000 of the undesignated funds will be used to help pay off the district’s COP loan.
The district also is planning for about $1 million in district funds, such as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund), to disappear. ESSER funding was enacted by Congress in December of 2020 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. She doesn’t anticipate as much of a revenue cash rollover because state school districts won’t be receiving as much one-time funds. ESSER II funds must be obligated by the end of this month.
She invited the board members to look at the unaudited actuals — all 111 pages — that were provided in the agenda packet.
“For a small district we are sitting in good financial health,” Ms. Fisher said. “I feel we are in a good position at this district. We have enough revenue that we should be good if something uncertain happens.”
The largest spending category continues to be the Lucerne Valley USD teachers.
Following her presentation, Superintendent Peter Livingston said that some High Desert school districts were nervous about the upcoming “fiscal cliff” due to the one-time funds disappearing next year. But the Lucerne Valley USD is in good financial shape and is expected to fare better than many districts.
Each California school district is required to present their Unaudited Actuals Report by September 15th. Lucerne Valley USD board members voted unanimously to approve the findings during Discussion/Action portion of the September 14th meeting.