Banks budget panel approves 2025-26 spending plan as state forecast turns uncertain

The Banks School District budget committee voted unanimously May 15 to approve the district's 2025-26 spending plan, preserving current staff levels while narrowing discretionary spending amid a weaker-than-expected state revenue forecast.

Brian, the district's budget speaker, told the committee the plan "maintains the staffing that we have now, but it is tight" and emphasized that roughly "85% of our budget goes towards staff staff members." He told committee members that a recent state revenue forecast showed far less revenue than expected and said that the district no longer expects additional K-12 investment this legislative session. "That prediction now is $800,000,000 less than they thought they would have in February," he said, urging conservatism in planning.

Why it matters: the committee's approval keeps classroom staffing intact for the coming year but limits discretionary spending on supplies, professional development and maintenance. Committee members pressed administrators on lines moved to cover payroll pressures and on how the district will prioritize student supports if federal or state funds are reduced in future years.

Jenny, who led the budget presentation, reviewed how the district budgets across funds and noted revenue sources: Banks receives the majority of its general fund support from the state, with roughly a quarter from local property taxes and the remainder from other sources. She walked members through assumptions used in the proposed budget, including negotiated salary increases, a projected rise in retirement (PERS/PRRS) contributions and increases in liability insurance.

The presentation also flagged several locally significant items. Jenny said the district expects an increase in timber-related revenue compared with last year, and she described a newly awarded state summer-learning allocation that the district is preparing to use to run prioritized programs for emerging readers. On athletics, Jenny noted a budgeted transfer of $385,000 from the general fund to athletics and activities and said increasing gate receipts and participation revenue could reduce that transfer pressure.

Committee questions focused on reduced supply budgets and how those changes would affect classroom-level needs. Jenny said reductions to supply lines were made to preserve staff and to meet increased payroll expenses; principals had reviewed priorities and could work with parent groups to cover nonconsumable items if necessary.

Formal action: a committee member moved to approve the district's 2025-26 budget as presented. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The motion included a readout of the general fund total ($16,197,273) and other fund figures as read aloud at the meeting; the motion was announced as approved unanimously.

What's next: administrators said they will continue monitoring final state and federal allocations and present any necessary budget adjustments at future board or budget committee meetings. Brian closed by thanking staff and the business manager for their work and the committee for its review.

Quotes used in this story are from the May 15, 2025 Banks School District budget committee meeting and are attributed to the speakers who made them in the transcript.