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TTSD warns SNAP interruption, PERS costs may squeeze district budget; staff preparing for state updates
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Udo told the Tigard‑Tualatin School Board that interrupted SNAP benefits and rising PERS obligations, combined with weaker-than-expected state revenue, are creating budget pressure; the district is coordinating local food resources and expects state updates in mid‑November and PERS contribution details in December.
Superintendent Dr. Udo told the Tigard‑Tualatin School Board that the district is bracing for a rise in household food insecurity after SNAP benefits were interrupted starting Nov. 1 amid a federal shutdown, and that that pressure comes on top of growing retirement and wage costs that are tightening the district’s budget.
"One in six Oregonians depend on some form of SNAP benefits," Dr. Udo said, and she described work with the city of Tigard and local partners, including Pack with Pride, to make sure families can find meal sites and other resources. She said the district has updated website listings and pushed messages to families about site‑based food pantries and community schedules.
Dr. Udo also outlined three compounding fiscal pressures: lower state revenue than projected, a rising share of costs going to PERS (the Public Employee Retirement System), and higher payroll costs driven by step increases and cost‑of‑living adjustments. She cited the recent state allocation to the school fund and said the combination means "more of that dollar ... is going towards having to pay for what we call PERS service debt." The superintendent told the board the district expects a state school‑fund update in mid‑November and more specific PERS contribution information in December.
Board members praised district communications to families and urged continued outreach. Director Hammes noted the biennial funding cycle in Oregon and called for advocacy at the legislature; Director Weston and others stressed the human consequences of food‑aid cuts and asked staff to consider surveys or operational tweaks (for example, changes to lunch service or a sharing table) to address students who report remaining hungry after the first lunch pass.
The district said it is trying to avoid program cuts and to focus on academic return on investment while it evaluates possible midyear actions. Next procedural steps are to monitor the state‑level updates in mid‑November and the December PERS notice and to return to the board with options if reductions or freezes are proposed.
