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Chisago Lakes board accepts FY26 budget adjustments after district reports more than 200-student decline since 2020
Summary
Board approved FY26 budget adjustments to address declining enrollment, estimated revenue loss and rising costs. Staff reported an enrollment decline of more than 200 students since 2020 and said the district's unassigned fund balance is slightly below board policy targets.
The Chisago Lakes School District board on Monday approved adjustments to the FY26 budget after staff outlined multi-year enrollment declines and funding pressures the district said require spending changes.
District staff told the board the district is down more than 200 students since 2020 and estimated a conservative revenue loss of about $5.5 million tied to that enrollment decline. "We had a loss of enrollment and we're down over 200 students since 2020," a finance presenter told the board while outlining adjustments and assumptions.
Staff said the district ended June 30, 2024, with an unassigned fund balance of "a little over $3,000,000," which the presenter said is approximately 6.8% of expenditures—below the district policy target of 7–10%.
Pressures and budget actions: presenters described several compounding pressures, including uncertainty in compensatory funding from the state, upcoming or pending state mandates (including paid family medical leave and safe/sick time), negotiated settlements that exceed new funding levels, and ongoing inflation. To address those pressures, the draft FY26 adjustments include reduced certified and non-certified staffing linked to enrollment, reductions in some summer transportation, system efficiencies (copier/printer contracts and building checks), and a decrease in athletic training (not a total elimination). Staff summarized the total adjustments at roughly "a little over $880,000."
Board discussion and tone: a board member urged public support for district bond measures and stressed the severity of statewide school funding projections, while other board members and staff emphasized the district's efforts to limit deeper cuts. One board member noted the district has made multi-year cuts in prior years and described the decisions as difficult but necessary.
Board action: after questions and discussion the board voted to accept the FY26 budget adjustments. The transcript records the chair calling for a motion and the motion passing by voice vote; the official minutes will show the recorded tally.
Supporting quote (finance presenter): "Every single person on our executive cabinet and the board and US Board Members have worked really hard on this budget... We had a loss of enrollment and we're down over 200 students since 2020. Conservatively, I'm going to say that's over $5,500,000 lost to that drop in enrollment."
