Second year running, the meal fund holds too much cash

What happened

The auditor's report for the year ended June 30, 2025 records one instance of non-compliance material to the district's financial statements: the food service fund held $1,212,650.59 more cash than the three months of average expenditure that federal rules allow. It is a repeat of the previous year's finding. The district traces it to the jump in federal and state meal subsidies during the pandemic and has agreed to a corrective action plan. Because of the finding the district did not qualify as a low-risk auditee.

Why it matters to families

Money parked in the meal fund is money that federal rules say should be going into meals or back into lower prices, and a finding that repeats is a sign the corrective plan has not yet worked. Losing low-risk auditee status also means future audits look harder at the district's federal programmes.

The evidence

The Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the year ended June 30, 2025 records Finding 2025-001: 'The School District's Food Service Fund Net Cash Resources exceeded its three months average expenditures by $1,212,650.59,' notes it is a repeat of prior-year finding 2024-002, attributes the excess to pandemic-era subsidy increases, and records that 'The responsible officials agree with the finding and will address the matter as part of their corrective action plan.' The summary of auditor's results marks the district as not qualifying as a low-risk auditee.

The source