Corvallis SD 509J proposes $182.6 million budget for 2025–26, projects $2.98 million shortfall amid enrollment decline

Corvallis School District (SD 509J) on Tuesday presented a proposed $182.6 million all‑funds budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year and said the general fund faces a projected shortfall of about $2.98 million, driven primarily by declining enrollment, uncertain state and federal revenues and rising payroll and retirement (PERS) costs.

Superintendent Noss told the budget committee the proposal “prioritizes specials at our elementary schools,” and she described the package as a mix of reductions and continued investments aimed at preserving core programs while narrowing the gap.

The nut graf: The district says expected state funding for the next biennium is not final and the proposal uses conservative assumptions. Without additional state revenue or other offsets, the district projects a multi‑million dollar gap that will force corrective budgeting choices; the district is conducting a demographic study and a facilities assessment to inform longer‑term decisions, which it will bring to the school board in August 2025.

Most important details

- Total proposed budget (all funds): $182,600,000 for 2025–26. The general fund represents about 63% of that total. Finance Director Lauren Wolf presented the figures. - General fund current resources (budgeted): $115,100,000, an increase of $2.6 million (2.3%) from the prior year’s budgeted resources. - Projected shortfall: Superintendent and staff described an approximated general‑fund shortfall of $2,980,000 for the coming cycle, after prior actions reduced an earlier deficit of roughly $8,200,000. - Enrollment assumptions: The budget uses a planning enrollment of 5,898 (an extended ADMw figure) in its revenue calculations; the district…