Snoqualmie Valley previews mostly balanced 2025–26 budget; preschool expansion, transportation and staff changes highlighted

Snoqualmie Valley School District finance staff told the Board of Directors on July 10 that the draft 2025–26 budget is largely balanced and includes planned preschool expansion, additional transportation staffing and modest certificated and classified staffing increases.

The district presenter said the budget presented to the board is “probably 90% there” and that staff will continue refining numbers before the board’s formal budget adoption on Aug. 14. Key items highlighted included a planned expansion of preschool (additional classrooms and related paraeducators), the hiring of more bus drivers, a budget capacity line of $4,200,000 and an operating fund balance that the presenter said keeps the district within its target range.

On enrollment and staffing, the presenter said kindergarten enrollment came in a bit lower than anticipated and the budget assumes a conservative kindergarten estimate of about 430 students unless summer moves alter that count. The presenter said elementary…