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Superintendent warns state budget shortfall could affect Canyon City Schools' programs
Summary
During the Feb. 24 board meeting, Superintendent Hartman told the Canyon City Schools Board of Education that a statewide K–12 funding shortfall under consideration at the legislature could force local impacts; the district will watch the March 20 state revenue forecast and explore efficiency and advocacy options.
Superintendent Hartman told the Canyon City Schools Board of Education on Feb. 24 that state-level budget pressures could translate into funding impacts for the district.
Hartman said the state faces a “very, very” large budget shortfall and that school funding decisions under discussion at the legislature include changes to Medicaid, the timing of recently approved school finance provisions and enrollment-averaging assumptions. “It is impossible to balance a budget without an impact to K–12 schools,” Hartman told the board.
The superintendent said district leaders, including Chief Financial Officer Heidi Anderson, are monitoring proposals and preparing for the state’s next revenue forecast, which he said is expected around March 20. He said a group of superintendents had sent a letter urging lawmakers to move forward with the school finance act to help stabilize funding.
Hartman described a range of possible state actions that could affect local revenues and said the district would both advocate and look for ways to be “most efficient investors” of public dollars while protecting instructional opportunities. He repeated that some options under discussion are “more severe and darker for schools,” though he did not list specific local cuts or program changes.
The remarks were delivered during the superintendent’s report portion of the meeting and were informational; no board action was taken on funding decisions at the session. Board members asked no formal follow-up motions during the report, and Hartman said staff would keep the board informed as the legislature and Joint Budget Committee move toward the March forecast.
The board later completed separate votes on the superintendent’s contract and a construction contract amendment (see separate votes summary).
