Alpena Public Schools adds to savings
Trending
ALPENA -- An audit of Alpena Public Schools' budget found the district to be in good financial condition at the end of last fiscal year.
The district ended last fiscal year with about $9 million in the bank, including about $8 million unassigned, equal to about 19% of the district’s general fund expenses, according to the audit. That’s enough to cover about 84 days of bills.
The district added about $2.4 million to its fund balance at the end of the year.
The district spent about $39.2 million in the year that ended June 30, and brought in nearly $42 million in revenue.
In the 2020 fiscal year, the district spent about $39 million and took in about $40 million, allowing the district to add more than $500,000 to its cash savings account.
Check out the interactive chart below. Story continues below graphic.
The audit was accepted and carried by the board during a meeting at Lincoln Elementary School on Monday after the board’s Financial Committee stated that the audit found the district in "good financial condition," according to Chelsea Meeder, of Straley Lamp and Kraenzlein, the district's auditing firm.
During the audit, Meeder found an increase in the number of days of expenditures by almost a month and praised the district for its efforts.
"This just goes to show that the district did a good job of maintaining that fund balance and general expenses during this kind of unstable economy during the school year," Meeder said.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education on Monday also:
∫ discussed its continued desire to sell select properties including the building that housed Alternative Choices for Educational Success (ACES) Academy and the bus garage located on M-32.
∫ discussed and accepted the adoption of the revised February 2021 version of the Neola Nondiscrimination/Anti-Harassment Policy, which includes protecting gender identity rights and the use of personal pronouns.
∫ hired 15 new employees which include four professional staff members and 11 support staff members.
∫ heard from Lincoln Elementary Principal Courtney Fredlund, who highlighted renovations to the school building, including upgraded lighting, water, and heating systems.
∫ asked that community members participate in a survey that will circulate in order for the district to qualify for COVID-19 funds from the federal government.