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Steamboat Springs school budget planning hits uncertainty as enrollment drops
Summary
District finance director warned of a projected enrollment decline, uncertainty in a new state school finance formula and use of reserves; board told a draft FY26 budget will be ready in May and that key state and local decisions could land in late April and March.
Steamboat Springs School District No. Re 2 Director of Finance and Operations Stephanie Juno told the school board on March 3 that projected enrollment and an unsettled state finance formula leave the district’s fiscal year 2026 revenue outlook uncertain.
Juno said the district currently projects 2,416 students for next year — the lowest enrollment in 12 years — and that the formula the state passed last year may not take effect because a statutory “trigger” has been activated. The district’s best-case scenario, she said, is essentially flat revenue from this year, while expenses such as compensation, health insurance and utilities are increasing.
The finance director said per-pupil funding is roughly $12,000 and that a one-year decline of about 75 students could have a dramatic revenue effect. Juno told the board she expects more clarity in late April and that the March 19 Education Fund Board meeting and the state revenue forecast will be key data points for the district’s budget work.
Why it matters: The board must balance competing priorities — compensation for staff and program maintenance — while preserving reserves. Juno said the district is using reserves this year (about $1 million) to cover current shortfalls and cautioned the board that continuing that pattern has long-term consequences. She recommended focusing school-level priorities now so administrators are ready to make spending decisions when state numbers are finalized.
Details and context: Juno outlined a timeline that calls for a draft budget in May, a public hearing on June 2 and final adoption on June 16. She said the district’s guiding principle for FY26 is to strike a balance between compensation and program maintenance. She also described several factors affecting expenses: negotiated compensation increases, higher health insurance costs, and rising utilities and service contract costs.
Board members asked procedural and advocacy questions. Board President Katie Lee and other members suggested constituents contact state legislators — specifically naming Representatives Lukens and Roberts — and the district encouraged outreach to members of the Joint Budget Committee. Juno and board members also discussed the local Education Fund Board (a half-cent sales tax board), noting its March 19 meeting will influence the district’s local revenue picture.
Details from district staff and committees presented in the meeting reinforce the budget concerns. The District Accountability Committee reported principals and school advisory committees are reviewing priorities and preparing for potential cuts if state revenues are reduced. Schools cited concerns about maintaining staffing levels and preserving programs if funding falls.
What’s next: Juno will continue enrollment and finance monitoring and present a draft budget to the board in May. Board members asked that the district publish timelines and suggested public outreach about the fiscal picture to inform taxpayers and stakeholders.
Ending note: The board did not take formal budget votes at the March 3 meeting; Juno characterized the discussion as planning while awaiting state and local revenue signals.
