Farmington schools present first 2025–26 budget amendment; district to use about $3.4 million in fund balance

Farmington Public Schools officials presented the district’s first budget amendment for the 2025–26 fiscal year at the Jan. 20 Board of Education meeting, projecting $181,500,000 in general fund revenues and $184,900,000 in expenditures and saying the district will draw approximately $3,400,000 from fund balance this year.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jennifer Kaminski walked the board through revenue changes since July 1, 2025, including a state foundation allowance increase the district characterized as a $400 per-pupil boost and a large, one-time increase in retirement-related categorical revenue. She said some federal and state categorical sources declined while other one-time funds grew, and that overall “we are using about $3,400,000 of fund balance in the current year.”

Why Head Start is ending: Kaminski told trustees the district will not run Head Start next year because program rules require operating capacity for 60 or more children; Farmington does not meet that enrollment threshold. Kaminski said the district plans to use Title I funds to continue supporting three-year-old children who need services rather than operate the Head Start grant directly.

Kaminski also listed several revenue and expenditure line items that moved since the original budget: a decrease of roughly $71,000 in local tuition revenue, about $300,000 lower interest revenue, an increase in local grant funds of about $285,000, an enrollment stabilization payment of roughly $391,000, and a $3.9 million increase in UAL retirement revenue that also raised retirement expense. She said state categorical increases included Great Start Readiness Program (about $571,000) and 31a at-risk funds (about $676,000), and that federal grant revenue declined overall by about $1.1 million (title funds among them), though she noted a late increase in Title I that will be reflected in a later amendment.

Board members asked for clarifications on Head Start and program continuity. Kaminski said the district will still support eligible families and plans to use Title I and other district resources to provide services in fewer classrooms while ensuring children’s needs are met. Trustee Blau sought confirmation that the change was not an intentional removal of services; trustees and staff emphasized they consider the change unfortunate but driven by program eligibility rules.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the expenditures report by voice vote after Trustee Heinrich moved to approve the January 20 expenditure list; no opposition was recorded. The consent agenda (minutes, Head Start director’s monthly report and personnel items) was approved later by a separate motion from Trustee Walker.

What comes next: Kaminski said the district will prepare a draft 2026–27 budget and present budget parameters to the board in March, generate a two-year forecast, and monitor state and federal decisions that could change one-time funding assumptions. She flagged uncertainty about whether some current one-time state funds will continue and noted the district has begun work with a demographer to project enrollment for the next five years.

The board’s vote to approve the expenditure report and the consent agenda were taken by voice and recorded as passed during the meeting. The board will consider a second budget amendment in June if updated Title I and other federal figures require changes.