Yakima School Board opens public hearing on preliminary 2025–26 budget amid federal funding uncertainty

The Yakima School Board on July 29 held the statutorily required public hearing on the Yakima School District’s preliminary 2025–26 budget, where finance staff presented a revenue plan of about $294.7 million and projected expenditures of roughly $296.05 million, leaving a budgeted deficit position of about $1.7 million on paper.

The district’s budget presenter, Mister Cooper, led the presentation and told the board the district estimates a beginning fund balance of about $22.6 million and an estimated ending fund balance of $15.6 million under the current preliminary budget. He said the district expects to avoid drawing down that beginning balance and anticipates ending the fiscal year nearer $18 million if projections hold.

Board members and staff discussed key budget drivers: growth in classified positions driven largely by 1-on-1 paraeducator staffing in special education, a substantial increase in health insurance costs linked to changes in the School Employees’ Benefits (SEB) program, and higher utilities and technology costs. Cooper said special education costs remain…