Leila Simmons, executive director of business operations, told trustees Aug. 26 that the district is preparing the 2026 budget and that a financial advisory projection shows a possible deficit within two years if spending and rising utilities continue unchanged. "If I keep running finances the way that they're running...we will be in a deficit within 2 years," Simmons said, urging a detailed restructuring to align staffing and department budgets with projected revenues.
Simmons outlined the public schedule for budget review: a public meeting on Sept. 26 to present the capital projects and bus plan and an October target to adopt the 2026 budget. The public hearing on the detailed budget will be open and posted online by the end of the following week. She told trustees the district intends to restructure some departments to maximize funds for students and said the district has not been in the red since 2017.
Trustees set finance committee meetings (every first and third Tuesday during budget season) and agreed to a Sept. 16 finance meeting to review the draft budget and bus plan; trustees noted some calendar conflicts with conferences and asked for scheduling confirmation. Simmons said more-detailed budget documents will follow and that the finance team will work with the superintendent on priorities to avoid cuts that harm instruction.
No formal budget adoption occurred at the meeting; trustees directed administration to continue development of the 2026 budget and to post the capital plan and bus plan publicly as stated.