Battle Ground Public Schools

District revises 2021-22 budget to include local levy

Jan. 18, 2022

The Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors voted unanimously at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 10 to approve a budget extension for the 2021-22 school year. The extension effectively revised the General Fund budget to incorporate funding from a four-year replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy approved by voters in November. 

The replacement levy had failed to pass in February and wasn’t included in the original 2021-22 budget, which was submitted to the board in August as required by state law. Without levy funding, that budget included the use of a substantial amount of the district’s rainy day fund, as well as federal pandemic relief funding, to balance the budget. Following passage of the levy, the district will collect $14.8 million in levy funding for the first half of 2022, along with just over $1 million in Local Effort Assistance from the state.

“That LEA funding is only available with an approved levy,” noted Michelle Scott, the district’s Chief Financial Officer, during a presentation to the board. “So the approval of the levy gives us an additional million dollars of state revenue that we get to utilize for our school programs.”

The updated budget includes an additional $15,826,879 in revenue and increases expenditures by $5,755,880. The levy funding allows the district to restore the savings that had been set aside for expenditures such as curriculum and maintenance. The levy also will support academics, transportation, social emotional learning, technology, building maintenance and the launch of middle school sports. 

Despite the added revenue, Scott noted the district continues to deal with the impact of lower enrollment and rising expenses. The revised budget still uses approximately $6.12 million of ending fund balance.

Battle Ground Public Schools is grateful to local voters and the community for supporting schools. The district is committed to fiscal efficiency and transparent practices and works to connect every student to a positive future, employ local workers, and maintain buildings that serve the community. Battle Ground Public Schools has the lowest total school tax rate in Clark County. 

Additional information on the district’s budget, including a four-year budget estimate, can be found at https://www.battlegroundps.org/budget.