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Board receives FY26 budget scenarios; directs staff to target roughly 20% unassigned fund balance
Summary
Superintendent Teresa Battle and finance staff presented four budget scenarios and asked for board direction. Trustees asked for a cautious approach amid state and federal funding uncertainty and directed staff to aim for a roughly 20% unassigned fund balance for FY26 while continuing right-sizing and targeted reductions.
Superintendent Dr. Teresa Battle and finance staff presented initial assumptions and four scenarios for the FY2026 budget at the District 191 board meeting on Feb. 13. The presentation highlighted revenue uncertainty at the state and federal levels, anticipated enrollment of about 7,021 students for 2025â26, and major cost drivers including collective-bargaining raises, healthcare cost increases, transportation and utilities.
Executive Director Stacy Sovine and Finance Director Tyler Denny walked trustees through four scenarios that ranged from a deep immediate reduction to a multiyear tapering of cuts. Scenarios varied in how much of the districtâs unassigned general fund balance would be held (roughly 24% under the most conservative scenario) or spent down (to the midâteens fund-balance range under more aggressive scenarios). Staff noted that roughly 80% of district expenditures fund salaries and benefits and that a projected specialâeducation formula increase and compensatory-funding changes could materially affect the districtâs revenue picture.
During discussion trustees said they did not want to rush to deep cuts at the expense of core programs. Several members expressed concern about federal funding uncertainty and possible reductions to compensatory holdâharmless provisions and recommended a cautious approach. After discussion the board directed the superintendent and finance team to develop a preliminary FY26 budget that aims to end FY26 at about a 20% unassigned fund balance while continuing rightâsizing tied to enrollment and preparing targeted reductions if needed. The board also asked staff to continue community engagement on the budget and re-open the district budget survey March 14âApril 13 and to return with updated proposals as legislative action clarifies revenue assumptions.
No budget adoption occurred on Feb. 13; the board set parameters for staff to use in developing the districtâs proposed FY26 budget.
