Tacoma School District staff outline draft five-year budget showing $30 million shortfall; levy, nutrition and transportation risks highlighted

Rosalind Medina, district finance staff, told the Tacoma School District Board of Directors at a study session that the district’s draft five‑year budget shows an approximate $30,000,000 shortfall and several revenue and expenditure risks that will affect the 2025–26 budget and beyond.

Medina said the district prepared the figures as draft legislative estimates and cautioned that many state and federal budget items remain in flux; she asked the board and public to treat the numbers as provisional. She said the district will present updated figures at future board meetings and hold a public hearing before final adoption.

Why it matters: The board must adopt a balanced budget each year. Medina’s presentation identified specific shortfalls and potential policy dependencies that could force deeper reductions, additional levy reliance or changes to programs such as Community Eligibility (CEP) meal service.

Medina summarized revenue and expenditure drivers the district is monitoring. On the revenue side she highlighted an enrollment increase that will add roughly $5.4 million compared with the prior budget and noted the district’s voter‑approved levy capacity of $82,000,000 (the voter‑approved cap) for the upcoming levy…