Wenatchee School District Sees Favorable End to 2018-19 Finances

While much has been made over the $4.5 million in cuts the Wenatchee School District had to make in January of this year, 2019 will end with a silver lining financially.

Executive Director of Business and Finance Larry Mayfield said the district ended the year with $1.1 million more than expected, primarily due to enrollment increases in Special Ed, the Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center, and Career and Technical Education.

"That will help us in the long run as we kind of go through these next several years with projected declining enrollment and reduced funding." Mayfield explained, "The six percent additional funding we get from the state; they will start taking that away at one percent per year starting in 2021."

Mayfield added the district still might have to make more cuts in the coming years, including certificated staff, but they won't know for sure until the state legislature defines what the upcoming funding formula is going to look like.

The legislature ends its short session in March.