Arlington board adopts 2025–26 budget after public hearing; directors warn fund balance recovery remains fragile

The Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors adopted the district's 2025'1026 annual budget Tuesday night, approving Resolution 25-10 after a public hearing and a detailed presentation from the district's finance director. The measure passed on a roll-call vote with directors Kelly, Watts and Knapp voting yes.

Gina Zutenhorst, the district's executive director of financial services, opened the public hearing and summarized the proposed F195 budget format required by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. "When we're talking about budget, we're just talking about the numbers even though that is my expertise," Zutenhorst told the board, emphasizing the budget's alignment with the district strategic plan and the board's resource-stewardship goals.

Zutenhorst said the district's budget package includes five principal funds: the general operating fund, capital projects fund, debt service fund, associated student body (ASB) fund and transportation vehicle fund. The general fund, she said, remains the largest and most constrained piece of the budget. She summarized revenue sources as roughly 80% state funding, 13% local…