Pasco School Board adopts 2025-26 budget, approves spending limits for five funds

The Pasco School District Board of Directors unanimously approved Resolution 1060 on the proposed 2025-26 budget after a public hearing and discussion at its regular meeting.

At the hearing, a district staff presenter summarized the five fund spending plan the board was asked to adopt and noted the budget assumes flat enrollment and a set of staffing reductions over the next three years.

The board will set maximum expenditure limits for the district's five designated funds: the general fund, capital projects fund, debt service fund, associated student body (ASB) fund and the transportation vehicle fund. The district's presenter said the general fund begins the year with an estimated $16,500,000 and is projected to end the 2025-26 year at about $12,500,000, reflecting a drawdown tied to efficiency changes and planned spending. The capital projects fund was presented with a beginning balance of about $27,000,000 and an expected 2025-26 year-end balance near $11,700,000; the debt service fund would begin near $10,900,000 and end the year around $13,100,000. The ASB fund was projected to grow from about $1,100,000 to roughly $1,300,000, and the transportation vehicle fund was shown starting at about $3,900,000 and ending the year just under $2,000,000 as buses are purchased and depreciation is realized.

The presenter explained the district's Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC) reporting: the budget lists roughly $30,700,000 in MSOC expenditures against an expected state apportionment of about $26,500,000, leaving an approximate $3.6 million difference to be covered by other district resources.

The budget's enrollment assumption cited by staff was 17,415 students (the presenter also referenced figures rounded to 17,400 at points in the presentation). Staff outlined a multi-year forecast that assumes 3% annual increases to revenues and expenditures, and planned staffing reductions of roughly $5,000,000 in 2026-27 and $3,000,000 in 2027-28, followed by an additional staffing reduction in 2028-29 (amount not specified in the presentation).

During the public hearing, commenters raised concerns about the enrollment projections and per-student costs. Commenter Bear Turner asked the district to publish the underlying enrollment trend data and questioned the assumption that enrollment would stabilize at 17,400 students after a recent larger drop; Turner also said the per-student cost rose about 14% over two years while the budget forecasts 3% annual increases. Guy Smirthwaite, a teacher and Pasco Association of Educators bargaining representative, urged the board to prioritize classroom staffing and to scrutinize administrative and district-level spending as the district considers tighter budgets and a levy renewal in February.

After public comment, a board member moved and a colleague seconded the motion to approve Resolution 1060, which "establishes maximum expenditure limits in each of Pasco School District's funds for the 2025-26 school year." A roll-call vote was taken; the motion passed unanimously.

Board President Amanda Brown and Superintendent Whitney were present for the hearing. The district presenter recommended adopting the resolution so the district remains on schedule to implement the budget and continue required financial reporting. The presenter also warned that the district is watching federal funding carefully and that some federal dollars had been temporarily uncertain over the summer.

The board closed the public hearing after the unanimous vote and directed staff to continue monitoring enrollment, federal funding, and the multi-year staffing plan as the year progresses.