Washoe School Board narrows $6.5M budget gap; pauses proposed police staffing cuts

Trustees approved most staff recommendations to reduce the Washoe County School District’s projected fiscal year 2025–26 deficit, but paused a proposal to delete four vacant school police officer positions.

The board voted 5–2 on May 13 to adopt organizational changes and budget reductions proposed by district staff that would cut the tentatively identified $6.5 million shortfall to about $3.7 million. The package approved by the board included reorganizations in Finance, Information Technology and Communications, a shift of Education Alliance staff funding from the general fund to the Education Alliance Fund, reductions to non-school travel and training, lowering electric and natural gas budgets, and two new groundskeeper positions to take over fields formerly maintained by the City of Sparks. Trustees omitted immediate cuts to school police staffing, instead pausing that item for further discussion.

Why it matters: The district relies on state funding for nearly all its general fund revenue. A weaker state revenue forecast in May had increased the district’s potential gap toward as much as $19.3 million if lawmakers did not act; subsequent state committee action cut some of that exposure and left Washoe with the smaller—but still significant—deficit the board addressed May 13. The board must finalize a budget by early June and has limited time to weigh additional changes.

What staff proposed and what the board approved - Organizational assessments: Staff presented reorganizations for Business & Financial Services,…