The Ottawa Elementary School District has a surplus in their 2023 budget. The school board unanimously approved it Tuesday. Revenues this year are expected to be about $39.9 million while the district is expected to spend about $37.6 million. But Supt. Michelle Lee says there will be deficit in the education fund. That’s the fund that helps the school buy materials and also the salaries of staff.
She says the district needs to keep track of that so it doesn’t happen over many years. She says the deficit is caused because of staff pay increases and benefits. There are surpluses the other funds, but the district can’t move the money around if they needed to.