WESD board approves proposed FY2025-26 expenditure budget and authorizes Truth in Taxation notice

The Washington Elementary School District Governing Board voted to approve the district’s proposed expenditure budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and authorized publication of the budget summary, notice of public hearing and Truth in Taxation notice.

District staff told the board the state had not yet approved a 2025–26 state budget, so the proposed district budget is prepared using current assumptions about state funding. A staff presenter said state statute requires the board to file a proposed budget by July 5 and that the board cannot adopt an adopted budget higher than the proposed budget. The presenter further explained the board must advertise the proposed budget and allow 14 days between proposed and adopted budgets to permit public review.

Staff highlighted several items in the proposal: maintenance and operations revenue is projected to fall slightly because the district expects continued enrollment declines and lower carryforward balances after one-time stipends and employee raises; the capital budget was listed at about $33,000,000, reflecting carryover and recent state funding changes; and federal ESSER grant funds previously reflected in the budget (described on the record as about $50.6 million) have been exhausted and removed from the proposal.

Board members asked whether the proposed budget could be amended later to align resources with district goals. A staff presenter said the board may amend the budget after adoption so long as the adopted budget is not higher than the proposed budget, and that revised budgets are required by statute on December 15 and May 15; staff also said monthly revisions are possible if needed.

A motion to approve the proposed budget and related publication authorizations was moved and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion passed. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally of named votes for the final motion.