Remember the Santa Rosa School Board debate last March over whether to move into play funds set aside for future retiree benefits so the district could maintain its positive financial position with the Sonoma County Office of Education?

After much debate, the board voted 4-2 to count those funds toward the district’s reserve figures, but not necessarily actually spend them. There was much philosophical debate that night over the financial integrity of a such a move, with one board member, Wally Lowry, likening the maneuver to something pulled by now-defunct Enron.

Despite that, and staff’s recommendation not to do it and to submit a qualified budget document instead, the board voted 4-2 to proceed.

Well it looks like the majority side on the 4-2 vote last March was right — that money won’t need to be used. The board on Wednesday is expected to hear from staff that the district carrying a 4.47 percent reserve without using those dollars.

To read about the debate that took place over the accounting move last March, click here:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100325/NEWS/3251083?p=1&tc=pg