Region 8 unveils $34.18 million FY2026–27 budget; Columbia partnership projected to add tuition revenue

The Region 8 administration presented the proposed FY2026–27 budget to the board and public, outlining a $34,176,011 proposed total that represents a 4.77% increase from the current year. The proposal includes a $33,676,011 net operating budget and $500,000 in capital funding.

Superintendent Colin identified major budget drivers — health insurance increases, contractual salary adjustments, transportation and supplies — and said administrators removed roughly $800,000 in initially requested items (furniture, fixtures and equipment, certain facilities upgrades) to keep the budget sustainable. He also said targeted reductions and efficiencies reduced what would otherwise have been a 7.42% increase.

The budget reflects a net addition of two positions intended to address operational needs: a buildings and grounds maintainer and an instructional‑technology specialist (coach). The administration said the grounds maintainer is necessary because one outdoor maintainer currently covers a 52‑acre campus (including 10 acres of athletic fields) and that the position also maintains district equipment. The instructional‑technology specialist would support teachers and students in effective and ethical use of technology, including AI, and would likely be part of the teacher bargaining unit.

Colin said the district anticipates additional tuition revenue of $150,729 tied to 20 Columbia students (10 returning and 10 new freshmen) who must declare by Feb. 20; the administration has been marketing Ram High School to Columbia families with orientation events, a recruitment video and brochures. The principal reported nine Columbia freshmen have joined the high school already and said family feedback from a December survey was uniformly positive among respondents.

Capital needs discussed included a proposed $500,000 capital budget to address immediate projects such as a loading dock replacement, catchbasin repairs and pavement/line repainting, and a note that FY27 will be the final year of paying debt related to recent campus renovations ($418,163 final payment). The administration said larger capital needs (roofs, HVAC, safety and security upgrades) will likely require bonding and a referendum next year, and that an architectural firm is assisting the district to scope and cost such projects.

During the financial report, business manager Eva Galoop reported a proposed net favorable position of $466,843 for the month ending Dec. 31, 2025, and a food‑service net loss of $80,980.83 for the fiscal year with an ending food service fund balance of $101,465.17. The board also approved several journal‑entry transfers and CIP reallocations: a set of appropriation transfers (motion and voice vote), a CIP reallocation of $38,192.46 (with $31,060 moved to system‑wide sidewalk repairs and $7,132.46 into CIP unallocated) and an additional transfer of $17,350.91 to athletic field repair and maintenance.

Board members asked clarifying questions about sixth teaching assignments, which occur when teachers take on an extra class to fill short‑term needs; the superintendent and business manager explained the timing and accounting entries behind the transfers. The administration said a PDF of the budget book will be emailed to board members and hard copies made available at the next workshop.

The board scheduled adoption of the budget for the April 6 meeting and planned several workshops to review department requests in more detail.