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Gresham-Barlow officials outline $7.5M–$13M gap and ask community to weigh priorities
Summary
District leaders told a public forum they face rising PERS, utility and insurance costs, steady enrollment declines and flat federal grants, projecting $7.5 million to $13 million in new reductions (on top of about $8 million already cut) and asking the public to help prioritize choices via a survey open through Feb. 17.
Gresham-Barlow School District officials told residents at a budget forum that the district faces a sizable funding gap driven by rising retirement (PERS) and operating costs, declining student enrollment and flat federal grants.
Pete Bejarano, the district's director of finance, said most general fund revenue comes from the State School Fund, with roughly 22% from local property taxes and 8% from other sources. He said payroll accounts for nearly 70% of spending and that cost categories outside the district's control are growing faster than revenue: "Our PERS costs are increasing much, much more than that 4% — it's closer to 10% actually," Bejarano said. He also cited utility increases around 9% and insurance cost jumps of about 12% in one year.
Bejarano said reserves—ending fund balance and contingency—are projected at about $10.2 million for the…
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