Colonial School District adopts FY 2026 final budget amid enrollment declines and tax uncertainty
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Summary
The Colonial School Board approved the district’s FY 2026 final budget after a presentation from the finance office that highlighted enrollment declines, rising special-education costs, an 8% overall budget increase and uncertainty tied to local reassessment appeals and federal funding shifts.
The Colonial School Board on Feb. 10 voted to approve the district’s FY 2026 final budget after a presentation by the district finance lead, Emily.
Emily told the board the finalized plan reflects enrollment declines and that special-education students now generate roughly 50% of the district’s Division 1 units while representing about 20% of total enrollment. “We are in good financial shape,” Emily said, while warning the board that revenue uncertainty remains from local property-tax reassessment appeals and potential federal funding changes.
The budget shows approximately an 8% increase from last year overall, with discretionary-budget growth kept under 4%. Emily said much of the growth in the plan is driven by restricted funding increases — notably state investments in educator salaries and several competitive grants — and by a SAMHSA grant supporting a “Return to Learn” program that boosted federal revenue in the plan. She also highlighted continued growth in transportation and tuition-funded budgets that serve intensive special-education students.
Emily described the local-property situation as an ongoing source of uncertainty: the county is processing more than 5,000 reassessment appeals, and that backlog — plus an open appeal window — could change the tax base and revenue outlook over the coming months. On federal funding, she said the district briefly received communications suggesting the SAMHSA grant might be discontinued, then was told the grant would continue; the episode underscored the risk of sudden federal changes.
Board members asked about how the district plans to use increased discipline-related funds. Emily said the increase covers a mix of contracted behavioral-intervention services, additional security staffing and other resources; she said the district is undertaking a zero-based staffing review to assess return on investment for contracted programs and will reduce or reprocure services that do not add value.
The board approved the final budget after discussion. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the FY 2026 final budget vote; the board chair announced the motion carried.