Albany schools project $6.1 million shortfall for 2025-26 amid enrollment decline and rising costs

The Greater Albany Public School District presented a preliminary budget projection showing a projected operating shortfall of about $6.1 million for fiscal 2025-26, driven largely by declining student counts and rising personnel costs.

Finance presenter Jane (finance presenter) told the board the district’s funded student count (average daily membership, or ADM) has fallen across five years by roughly 308 pupils and that district funding depends on the ADM. Using current inputs, Jane said the district’s beginning fund balance would fall from about $16 million for 2024-25 to about $13 million in 2025-26 and roughly $11 million in 2026-27 under the scenario shown to the board. She described the projection as provisional and said the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will provide updated statewide ADM and tax estimates in…