Nutrition services department turns around deficit, ends year with $1M surplus

Columbia Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Linda Quinley in December told the district’s finance committee that CPS was headed for a $689,643 operating deficit.

That was after a $1 million deficit in 2013-14. Nutrition services has always been self-sustaining, but Quinley said at the time that the district might need to start supplementing its meal-serving functions from operating funds.

Quinley now says the situation has changed dramatically: She reported Monday, when the school board approved the 2015-16 budget, that nutrition services would end the fiscal year June 30 with a $1,244,991 balance. The nutrition services fund balance had declined from $2.28 million in 2010-11 to $702,378 in 2013-14.

Projected spending in nutrition services in 2014-15 is $8,049,887, with projected revenue and savings of $9,294,878.

“Nutrition services has fund balances of $1,244,991, versus zero, which is really significant,” Quinley said at Monday’s meeting. “What we’re seeing is some great and hard work” by Nutrition Services Director Laina Fullum and her staff and employees.

The 2015-16 nutrition services budget calls for spending of $8,163,220 and revenue of $8,549,500 for a surplus of $386,280 and projected ending balance of $1,631,271.

After the December finance committee meeting, the administration and Fullum went to work to get the deficit down. One of the ways CPS is reducing spending is by not buying equipment.

“Mrs. Fullum turned off spending for all equipment,” Quinley said. “That’s not something we can sustain for very long.”

Fullum said she thinks the equipment purchase moratorium can continue for one more school year.

Fullum also eliminated the chef position to save $25,530 for part of this school year. The move will save $65,000 in 2015-16. The district hired the chef in 2011.

The district also isn’t filling some positions when workers leave or retire.