Green River trustees adopt $62.6 million fiscal 2026 budget after workshop

Green River School District trustees on Tuesday approved the district's fiscal year 2026 budget, adopting total appropriations of $62,550,608 after a budget workshop presentation from district finance staff. The workshop and ensuing vote put the district on a budget path that relies on a state-funded external cost adjustment (ECA), rolling-average ADM funding, model and grant options, attrition savings and cash reserves to cover expenditures. Finance director Katie Harter told the board the district received an ECA that preserved last year's adjustment and that certified base pay rose by $720 after experience and education steps; support pay increased by $0.40 per hour, and experience steps for support staff increased by $0.20 per hour. Equivalent adjustments were applied to administrators, supervisors, activity contracts and substitutes. Harter said the district will continue to offer diversified health insurance plans. The presentation showed student enrollment declined by 46 students year over year but the district will use a rolling average ADM for funding, limiting the ADM funding loss to 31 students. Harter said the district's foundation guarantee is $35,614,104 and that local resources — including 25 mills and an anticipated county 6-mill contribution — were estimated at $36,584,643, putting the district in a preliminary recapture position of $1,971,921; she cautioned the number was subject to state technical adjustments and local changes through March 31. Trustees asked questions about reserves and cash carryover. Harter said undesignated reserves are projected at 17.23% ($6,130,958) as of June 30, 2026, and noted that Senate File 137 will require reserves to be reduced to 15% by June 30, 2028. The district's major maintenance fund showed available funds of $5,711,800 with $321,631 in current projects, mostly for the Washington elevator. She also said Senate File 34 temporarily increased the square footage calculation used for school facilities funding for fiscal 2026 only. After board discussion and routine motions, the trustees voted to adopt the 2025-26 budget. The motion carried on a voice vote. Board members noted declining enrollment as a continuing budget pressure and discussed using attrition and nondisruptive staffing adjustments to manage future shortfalls. Several trustees thanked district staff and the GREA bargaining team for their work on compensation and the budget. The budget adoption completes the district's formal budget process for FY26; staff will return to the board if state adjustments or local tax collections change the recapture calculation during the statutory amendment period.