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Seattle school finance outlook: district expects structural gap for 2026–27; board forms budget ad hoc committee
Summary
District staff told the board the near‑term gap that drove last year's shortfall is expected to persist into 2026–27, and warned that prior one‑time fixes have reduced reserves; the board's ad hoc budget committee will continue meetings through December to shape options for next year's budget.
Seattle School District staff told the board on Sept. 26 that the district expects a structural budget gap into the next fiscal year and that last year's shortfall was partially closed with one‑time measures and fund balance draws.
Doctor Buttleman, presenting the budget update, explained that although projected shortfalls vary from year to year, the district used reserve funds and some one‑time revenue in the last cycle to avoid a larger cut. "The fund balance went down approximately $40,000,000 in that year," he said, describing how a larger projected deficit did not fully materialize because enrollment and other revenues were higher and…
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