Coeur d'Alene schools report $18.9M general fund balance gain

The Coeur d'Alene School District closed fiscal year 2025 with an $18.9 million general fund balance, an increase of about $4.8 million from the previous year, the district disclosed following an independent audit by Hayden Ross. The audit found revenues outpaced budget projections by roughly $1.8 million while expenditures were about $2.3 million under budget, leaving the district in a stronger fiscal position heading into the new school year.

Auditors and district officials attributed the revenue gains to several specific sources: higher local interest earnings, collection of previously retained county funds, and increased state appropriations and reimbursements. On the spending side, savings were driven by lower-than-expected health-benefit and workers’ compensation costs, reduced purchased services, and decreased supplies spending. Together these factors produced the roughly $4.8 million increase in the district’s general fund balance for FY2025.

For Kootenai County residents, the result matters because local levies supply roughly 25% of the district’s operating budget. A healthier reserve reduces the immediate risk that budget shortfalls will force deeper cuts to classroom programs or trigger higher levy requests. District officials emphasized that maintaining a robust fund balance must be balanced with ongoing local levy support, and said the results reflect conservative budgeting and financial stewardship.

The audit provides a near-term buffer against common fiscal shocks that can affect school systems: unexpected enrollment shifts, changes in state funding, or spikes in operating costs. With about a quarter of operations funded through local levies, the district’s reserve position gives the school board more flexibility in setting levy rates and allocating one-time expenses versus recurring commitments. Officials will still face decisions on whether to use a portion of the fund balance for capital needs, program investments, or to hold it steady as a rainy-day reserve.

The audit’s findings also offer context for property taxpayers and voters ahead of any levy discussions. A stronger balance sheet can temper arguments for immediate additional local revenue, while also giving administrators room to propose targeted investments without increasing ongoing obligations. Economically, the combination of higher interest earnings and recovered county funds reflects both market conditions and administrative recovery of available revenues.

Next steps for the district include presenting the audit results at upcoming board meetings and incorporating the figures into the FY2026 budget process. For parents, staff, and taxpayers in Coeur d’Alene and the wider Kootenai County community, the FY2025 audit signals a pause in fiscal strain and a chance for more deliberate planning on how local levy dollars and reserves are used to sustain classrooms and services.