Beaverton SD 48J proposes staged $10M‑a‑year reductions to avoid a ‘budget cliff’

Beaverton School District leaders told the board Aug. 26 they prefer a staged approach to closing a long-term structural deficit: modest, monitored reductions roughly equal to $10 million per year for the next three years rather than larger immediate cuts or a do‑nothing approach that would deplete reserves.

Superintendent Gustavo Balderas framed the issue bluntly during the retreat: "This is the number 1 thing that we're gonna need to tackle this year is this very topic," he said, urging clear direction from the board so staff can prepare a proposed budget.

The situation in brief

District finance staff showed the board a multi-year forecast based on the state school fund outlook and current enrollment projections. Beaverton's general fund for 2024–25 was shown at about $786,900,000; the state school fund represents roughly 87.1% of district general fund revenue. The district's reserves remain relatively large compared with nearby districts, but forecasts show a rising structural deficit if no action is taken: staff estimated a planned deficit of about $19.9 million for 2025–26 under current assumptions, and projected deficits growing further into the 2028–29…