Patricia Boyce, the district treasurer, presented a four‑year fiscal forecast at the Oct. 6 Oregon Board of Education meeting showing a projected deficit of $2,970,000 for fiscal year 2026 and larger deficits in subsequent years.

"You have the $51,500,000 of total revenue, the 54,500,000.0 in expenses for a deficit spending of 2,970,000.00," Boyce told the board as she walked through the community‑friendly forecast and supporting slides.

The forecast projects deficit spending of $2.9 million in FY26, $4.6 million in FY27, $6.9 million in FY28 and about $9.0 million in FY29, and shows the district's ending cash balance moving from roughly $13,000,000 in FY26 to a negative balance in FY29, Boyce said.

Boyce said salaries have increased about 7% compared with the prior year largely because FY26 includes an extra payroll and a recently negotiated 3.5% raise for represented staff; she estimated one payroll is around $1,300,000. Benefits costs rose about 14%, driven in part by a 12.3% increase in health insurance premiums after several large claims, she said. She also said interest income rose about 20% after moving funds into higher‑yield accounts.

The presentation included district enrollment and revenue context: roughly 3,300 students, about 436 special education students, about 1,700 students identified in poverty, property valuation near $869,000,000, a median household income around $54,000 and a state share of roughly 39% with base funding per student listed as $3,911, Boyce said.

During discussion, Boyce noted she did not include potential new local revenues tied to possible data‑center development or plant projects because those revenues were not yet certain.

Separately, Superintendent (staff member) warned the board about proposals in the state legislature to change property‑tax rules and said the district cannot yet quantify the cumulative effect. "My biggest concern ... is there is no plan right now in the legislature," the superintendent said, adding that large reductions in local property revenues would also affect police, fire and other local services.

The board approved several routine fiscal actions during the meeting, including a transfer of $109,000 from the general fund to athletic funds to move prior years' pay‑to‑participate receipts. That transfer was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.

Treasurer Boyce told board members she will update the forecast again after state funding details are clearer, likely around mid‑November and again in February, and she and district leadership plan efficiency reviews in departments to identify potential reductions.