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Columbia Heights board approves FY2026 preliminary budget after discussion of compensatory aid and enrollment
Summary
The Columbia Heights Public Schools board approved a preliminary FY2026 budget projecting a modest fund-balance increase and incorporating newly confirmed state compensatory aid, while board members discussed enrollment trends and reserve uses.
The Columbia Heights Public Schools board approved its preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget on a motion from board member Julie, seconded by Laura, after a presentation from Director Hennikins and discussion of enrollment forecasts and state funding.
The board’s preliminary budget projects general-fund revenues just under $48 million and expenditures just over $47 million, producing an estimated increase of about $821,000 and an ending general-fund balance of roughly $8.6 million for FY2026, including an assigned balance of $2.5 million, Director Hennikins said.
Board Treasurer Julie and Director Hennikins said the budget includes a confirmed increase in state compensatory aid that had previously been at risk; Hennikins called the compensatory aid “a reality” rather than an assumption and said that fact materially improved the district’s outlook.
The budget presentation detailed projected fund balances: an unassigned general-fund balance of about $7.8 million and restricted/assigned balances that together put total projected fund balance near $14 million. Hennikins said the assigned balance is largely reserved for deferred maintenance and capital items, and for special-education and English-language staffing as student needs change.
Hennikins told the board the projection assumes federal Title allocations and other entitlements that have not yet been fully awarded, and that the district has coded preliminary budgets for those programs so amendments can be made once allocations arrive. “I feel good about that,” Hennikins said of the assumptions built into the preliminary budget.
Board members asked about enrollment trends and classroom capacity. Hennikins said the district experienced a midyear dip in enrollment that rebounded by year end and that the district anticipates a modest net decrease of about 38 students next year but continues to monitor building-level capacities. The board discussed reserve levels and the district’s ability to maintain services if future legislative working groups alter compensatory aid rules.
The board voted to approve the preliminary FY2026 budget. The vote was recorded as passed; the motion carried.
