Community Financial Question: Was the Board given advance notice of the April 7, 2026, agenda item to suspend the work session rules and of the $26 million transfer package? 

Yes. The April 7, 2026, Work Session included Agenda Item 10.5, which addressed the approval of general fund transfers. The full budget transfer package was sent to Board members on April 6, 2026, the day before the meeting, so they had time to review it in advance.  

The package contained detailed financial information about how funds would be adjusted. While the public agenda included a short description, the full details were provided in the attached document, not in the brief agenda summary. 

The package included the following: 

It is important to clarify that these were budget transfers (reallocations of existing funds), not new spending and not hidden funds. The $26.18 million does not represent extra money available to the District. Instead, it reflects planned adjustments moving funds from accounts with available balances to accounts that were overspent or projected to be overspent. 

In other words, the transfers were necessary to correct imbalances within the budget, not to create or conceal surplus funds. Without these adjustments, some accounts would continue to show negative balances, which would give an incomplete or misleading view of the District’s true financial position. 

The transfers did not increase or change the total overall budget. They simply ensured that spending aligned with how the budget was actually being used, producing a more accurate and transparent picture of the District’s finances. 

The Board voted to temporarily suspend its Work Session rules, which normally limit meetings to discussion only and do not allow formal action or voting. By doing so, the Board was able to act immediately and take formal votes to address negative account balances, make necessary budget adjustments, and bring the District’s financial records into alignment, ensuring a clear and accurate picture of its financial position.

This action did not violate policy or bypass proper procedures. It is an allowable, limited step used when timely decisions are necessary to maintain accurate financial reporting and responsible oversight.

The Board approved the transfer package unanimously at the April 7, 2026, Work Session. 

For additional transparency, the Treasurer later reviewed the results of these budget transfers at the April 28, 2026, Business Meeting (Agenda Item 3.3). This follow-up presentation included: 

• The line-by-line movement of funds from the District’s financial system 

• The updated appropriations report reflecting the final adjusted budget 

The final executed transfers totaled $25,640,623.76, which differs from the April 7 planned total. This difference reflects normal timing changes, as account balances can shift between planning, Board review and approval, and the actual execution of transfers.