West Linn-Wilsonville budget committee approves $265.99 million FY2025-26 budget, warns of classroom staffing cuts

The West Linn-Wilsonville SD 3J budget committee voted unanimously to approve the district’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget, setting maximum expenditures and tax levies and forwarding the proposal to the school board for adoption.

The committee approved a proposed total budget of $265,991,820, including a general fund of $158,035,887, special revenue of $31,683,624, debt service of $44,057,708 and capital projects of $32,214,601. The package includes a permanent tax rate of $4.8684 per $1,000 of assessed value and a debt-service levy of $31,984,570; the committee also approved continuing the local option levy approved by voters on Nov. 7, 2023.

The budget officer and chief financial officer, Dr. Hughes, summarized the district’s plan and the factors that drove reductions, saying the district has pursued about $15,000,000 in budget reductions tied to lower enrollment, rising costs and changes in revenue assumptions. She told the committee the district is watching the state revenue forecast closely and that an anticipated 1.68% reduction in the PERS rate, if finalized, could be incorporated as a June amendment.

Public comment and committee discussion centered on class-size impacts, use of Student Success Act funding and the district’s reserves. In public comment, Christy Longs urged the committee to prioritize classrooms and teachers, saying, “This is not a crisis of circumstance. It's a crisis of choice and the power to change course is in your hands right now.” Another commenter, Mr. Reinke, pressed for transparency on interest and bond accounts and on whether Student Success Act funds were being directed to primary schools as he believed they could be.

Committee members and staff discussed enrollment trends and contingency planning. Staff reported the district is projecting a net enrollment decline of roughly 300 students for 2025–26 with primary enrollment down about 249 students; enrollment remains fluid because interdistrict transfers, charter lotteries and late enrollments are still being finalized. Dr. Hughes and other staff said core services and legally required supports (special education, English-language development) are preserved, and counselors were not reduced in the proposed plan.

Board members and staff noted the budget is a snapshot that may be amended before final adoption. The committee chair and staff told members the school board will consider adoption on June 16 and may act on new information—state forecast revisions, final PERS rate changes, grant decisions or proceeds from property sales—before the board’s adoption.

Formal action: the budget committee’s motion approves the FY2025–26 proposed budget with the amounts and tax levies read into the record; a roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval. The committee’s approval establishes budget authority to publish and present the proposal to the board; it does not yet finalize any mid-year staffing actions that the board may later direct.

The meeting closed with staff and committee members reminding the public that adoption by the school board is the next step and that staff will present any changes that arise between now and the June adoption meeting.