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Board approves FY26 Food Nutrition Services budget; CEP expansion and equipment investments planned
Summary
The Board approved the Food and Nutrition Services FY2026 operating budget, authorizing continued equipment investment from a prior spend-down, expansion of community eligibility provision schools and a small lunch-price increase (10 cents) projected to raise modest additional revenue.
The Washington County Board of Education on June 17 approved the Food and Nutrition Services operating budget for fiscal year 2026, moving forward with equipment investments, a planned expansion of community eligibility provision (CEP) schools and a modest lunch-price increase.
Why it matters: The food services budget funds school meals and operations for every day of the school year. The district's approach affects students' access to meals, district finances and how the department manages aging equipment and participation rates.
Key details from the presentation and board discussion:
- Participation and recent activity: Staff reported serving roughly 1,500,000 breakfasts, 2,100,000 lunches and 177,000 after-school suppers in the most recent year. Breakfast participation is projected to be about 8,700 average daily breakfasts next year.
- Fund balance and equipment investments: The department reported it spent $1,400,000 from its fund balance under a planned spend-down for equipment and facility needs, including refrigerator and freezer replacements. Staff said they propose an additional $500,000 investment for the coming year to continue infrastructure upgrades, including remote monitoring for freezers.
- Community Eligibility Provision expansion: Staff recommended adding 11 schools to the CEP program (bringing the district total to 26 schools) so all students at those schools would receive free meals. The federal CEP funding algorithm and direct-certification formulas determine eligibility; staff confirmed CEP funding comes from federal sources.
- Federal commodity allotment and grants: The department expects a $195,000 decrease in its commodity allotment for the coming year, and staff said it is monitoring pending federal funding changes and expiring local food grants.
- Meal prices: The board approved a proposed 10-cent lunch price increase for next year. Staff projected a small revenue gain from the change (roughly $25,000 given the district's federal funding share) and said smaller, incremental increases were preferred over larger hikes later.
- Vote and next steps: The board voted to approve the FY26 operating budget (transcript records a unanimous vote). Staff will implement CEP conversions and program changes and continue monthly budget monitoring.
Ending: The adopted budget keeps the department on a path to replace aging equipment, expand free-meals coverage at qualifying schools and modestly adjust paid-meal pricing to help sustain operations. Staff will return regular financial updates to the board.
