Washoe County School District projects $9.7 million shortfall; trustees direct budget and audit analyses

At a Feb. 25 work session the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees heard a briefing from Chief Financial Officer Mark Mathers and Budget Director Jeff Bozzo on the governor's amended biennial budget and the district's preliminary fiscal-year 2025–26 outlook, and voted to send two analyses back to staff.

The board directed the superintendent to (1) analyze and report back on new items related to the FY2025–26 budget and (2) conduct a fiscal analysis of the internal audit department's staffing needs. Both motions passed unanimously by voice vote.

District staff warned the board the governor's amended budget leaves the State Education Fund largely flat for K–12 operating dollars while shifting and reclassifying some compensation funding. “We are looking at a preliminary general fund deficit of $9,700,000,” Budget Director Jeff Bozzo told trustees during the presentation.

Why it matters: most operating dollars the district receives are enrollment-driven. Bozzo and CFO Mark Mathers said the amended documents show Washoe County School District's adjusted base per-pupil funding would be essentially unchanged in fiscal 2026 and rise by less than 1% in fiscal 2027. At the same time the district faces a projected enrollment decline and rising non-discretionary…