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St. Vrain board adopts amended FY2026 budget, flags nutrition services concern
Summary
The St. Vrain Valley School District board approved an amended FY2026 budget after a presentation detailing $7.3 million in revenue increases, $7.0 million in added expenditures and a projected ending fund balance of $145 million; the Nutrition Services Fund was singled out as a yellow risk.
The St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J Board of Education unanimously approved an amended fiscal year 2026 budget following a presentation and brief discussion Thursday night.
Finance presenter Justin told the board the amended budget incorporates updated October enrollment counts, a higher net assessed value and other revenue adjustments, producing $7.3 million in additional revenue and $7.0 million in added expenditures compared with the budget the board adopted in June 2025. Justin said the board originally projected a $28.9 million spend-down; after changes the projected spend-down is slightly lower, and the district now projects an ending fund balance of $145 million, which he said represents just over 28% of annual expenditures.
The presenter identified the largest revenue change as increased mill levy override (MLO) receipts — an approximately $5.7 million increase driven by a larger-than-expected 9% net assessed value increase rather than the 3% estimate used in June. He also cited $1.7 million in abatement-related and other state and federal adjustments and described a $2.3 million package of one-time timing expenditures shifted into FY2026.
On the expenditure side, Justin pointed to additions in staffing (custodial and special education positions), rising benefit costs, and other adjustments to align actual staffing and services with student needs. He described the district's approach to benefit increases as absorbing more of rising health-care costs to reduce pressure on employee premiums.
Justin also flagged a separate concern: the Nutrition Services Fund, which showed a planned spend-down of reserves because federal and state meal-reimbursement rates are prescribed and limit revenue per meal. He said the district is exploring strategies to control costs and preserve the fund’s reserves.
Board members praised the finance team’s transparency and the district’s meritorious budget award from the Association of School Business Officials. After brief comments and no substantive amendments, the board moved to adopt the amended budget. The motion, recorded as moved by Jim and seconded by Jackie, passed by roll-call vote: Berthold yes; Gilligan yes; Lechuga yes; Weiss yes; Babbs, Harenick and Solomon recorded as absent.
With approval, staff said the district will post the amended budget on the district website the following day.
