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District projects $13.5M Education Fund deficit in FY27; levy Option C expected to add $5.2M
Summary
Doctor Brown told the Committee of the Whole that Rockford Public Schools ended FY25 with an Education Fund deficit of about $14M (primarily from health‑care costs), expects continued health‑care pressures in FY26, and projects a FY27 deficit near $13.5M while modeling levy Option C to provide approximately $5.2M in new revenue.
Doctor Brown presented the district’s fiscal outlook and warned trustees that the Education Fund remains under pressure.
“We did end FY25 with a significant deficit in the Ed Fund, about $14,000,000,” Brown said, noting roughly $10,000,000 of that was driven by healthcare claims above budget. Year‑to‑date FY26 results continue to show deficits, and Brown said health‑care claims are running about $5,000,000 higher than expected for the current fiscal year. Under the assumptions presented, FY27’s Education Fund deficit was projected at approximately $13,500,000.
Brown said the district’s FY27 outlook assumes the board will move forward with levy Option C (the scenario the board agreed to advance in November), which he estimated would provide about $5,200,000 in new funding to reduce the projected deficit. He emphasized uncertainty around federal and state funding levels, noting that continuing resolutions and state funding decisions could change the outlook.
Next steps include a January deeper dive into cost‑savings opportunities, a presentation of draft DMG PRISM recommendations to the board, and potential board action in February or March depending on findings. Brown said the district plans standard budget presentation timelines in April–August but warned that additional cost‑saving decisions may be required to achieve balance.
No vote was taken; trustees will consider levy and other budget actions in upcoming meetings.
