Vancouver Public Schools outlines more than $20 million planning gap, county treasurer signals emergency support

The Vancouver Public Schools superintendent reported to the board that the district faces a planning shortfall of just over $20 million for the 2026–27 fiscal year, driven by a recurring operational deficit, falling enrollment, rising salary and non-salary costs, and growing unfunded special-education expenses.

At the meeting the superintendent said preliminary estimates show roughly $7,000,000 of recurring reductions would be required to balance the budget if no other changes occur. He added the district expects about $2,500,000 in additional pressure from continued enrollment declines, an unfunded salary/IPD gap near $5,850,000 (forecast “just under $5,900,000”), approximately $1,000,000 from MSOC (material, supplies and operating costs) inflation, and a projected $1,500,000 increase in special-education costs. He said those figures, together with other line items, leave the district planning for “just over $20,000,000.”

The superintendent outlined the district’s multi-step calendar for making decisions: a Dec. 11 meeting with labor leaders, a Jan. 13 public budget update, advisory-group engagement in late January and February, a Feb. 10 board preview and an anticipated February resolution to reduce the educational program (a legal step that enables later staffing reductions). He told the board to expect a March 10 agenda item proposing reduced FTE by broad categories; if adopted, that would trigger formal labor-notification processes. He emphasized the district has exhausted one-time federal funds and reserves that previously helped smooth shortfalls.

Clark County Treasurer Alicia Topper addressed the board during public comment and explained that her office collects and invests district funds and may issue interest-bearing registered warrants in emergency situations. She said Resolution 939 before the board requests registered warrants up to $16,500,000 “to keep the district from entering a negative cash balance to cover critical expenses,” and that she will issue the warrants if the board moves forward. Topper warned that registered warrants are an emergency tool, not a sustainable long-term strategy, and said she had asked the state superintendent’s office to reconsider an apportionment advance but was refused.

Board members and the superintendent emphasized the district expects additional levy revenue (the superintendent projected about $4,700,000 of extra levy collections) but said levies alone will not solve structural funding shortfalls. Directors and speakers repeatedly urged local advocacy to state legislators, noting the state share of K–12 spending has declined over recent years.

The superintendent asked the board to balance restoring some fund balance (he and the board have discussed an initial $7,000,000 target step) with minimizing immediate impacts on students and staff. He cautioned that prior deep reductions two years ago — described in the meeting as roughly $34,000,000 — make repeat reductions politically and operationally painful and that a large portion of any new cuts would likely affect staffing because personnel accounts for about 85% of the budget.

Votes at a glance: The meeting included routine votes to approve prior minutes and the consent agenda and a separate roll-call approval to adopt Policy 3241 (student discipline) on second reading. The board also approved an agenda amendment to advance swearing-in of newly seated directors so they could participate in business that followed.

Next steps: The board and superintendent scheduled further labor talks in December and January, a public budget update on Jan. 13 and a March 10 meeting where the resolution proposing reductions in FTE by category could be presented.