Hillsboro SD 1J projects roughly $20 million shortfall; proposes staff reductions to balance 2025–26 budget

Summary

District officials told the budget committee a projected $20 million gap for 2025–26 would require nearly $20 million in staffing and one‑time operational reductions; the budget committee approved the proposed budget and the board later approved a supplemental appropriation to apply internal service funds.

Hillsboro School District 1J finance officials told the budget committee on May 6 that the district is planning for an estimated $20,000,000 shortfall in the 2025–26 school year and proposes staffing and one‑time operational reductions to produce about $19,900,000 in savings.

District Financial Officer Scott Harrison and Director of Business Services Jeff Jones presented a proposed budget built around the governor's recommended state school fund level of $11.36 billion and the district’s current operating assumptions. “If we take the governor's proposed K–12 budget of $11,360,000,000 … this equates to a funding increase … of 11.4%. … We estimate our expenses over the same time frame to increase by more than 9 percent,” Harrison said in the presentation, summarizing the gap that produces the shortfall.

The district attributed the gap to several factors: declining enrollment (staff estimates roughly 1.2% decline; outside demographers projecting as much as 4% over coming years), higher PERS employer contribution rates released by the PERS board, increased liability‑insurance and utility costs, and wage and…

Hillsboro SD 1J projects roughly $20 million shortfall; proposes staff reductions to balance 2025–26 budget

Summary

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