LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The Clark County School District changed how large its deficit is three times in the past week.
Last week, it was $20 million. Then on Thursday before the school board meeting, CCSD said it was $12 million.
However, then at the meeting, CCSD Interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen Mitchell told trustees the deficit was actually $10.9 million.
“We should have had a more timely communication with principals, as we under projected with our salaries in January, and we need to do better,” Larsen Mitchell said.
According to the interim superintendent, the shortfall represents less than one percent of CCSD’s nearly $4 billion budget.
But how did the district get here?
On Sept. 15, CCSD notified some schools it received at-risk funding when they shouldn’t have and directed principals to adjust their budgets.
On Sept. 17, the district realized teacher raises that were approved last year between CCEA and CCSD weren’t included in the current budget.
It also didn’t anticipate increases in cybersecurity and litigation expenses.
Larsen Mitchell told trustees it went over its litigation budget by $23 million.
“We have identified the root causes of not having sufficient process documentation, communication, and protocols, and we will do better,” she said.
The district said it’s planning to use its ending fund balance to absorb the potential central budget deficit without impacting schools.
An attempt to hire the Council of Great City Schools to review the district’s finances failed twice in votes that were 3 to 3. The school board has an open seat since former trustee Katie Williams resigned last month.
