Bandon SD 54 proposes $20.26 million budget for 2025-26, warns of cuts if federal funds fall

Amanda presented Bandon School District 54's proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget on May 18, proposing a $20,257,706 spending plan built on a state school fund biennium assumption of $11,360,000,000 and an estimated average daily membership of about 630 students. "For the Bandon School District community, it is our responsibility and privilege to present the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year," Amanda said during the budget message.

The budget packet Amanda reviewed describes a balanced proposal that relies on a beginning cash balance of about $3.1 million and a $415,000 contingency to maintain current service levels while planning just over $1,000,000 in reductions after $1,200,000 in cuts last year. The plan dedicates roughly 66% of the total to the general fund, about 21% to special revenue, 10% to capital projects and smaller shares to debt service and curriculum rotation funds.

Why it matters: district officials told the committee they face a mix of local and statewide pressures that limit revenue and increase costs. Amanda said the district has lost nearly 200 students over seven years, a trend that lowers per-student state allocations. She also flagged federal funding uncertainty: she cited a recently released presidential discretionary request that, if enacted, would reduce U.S. Department of Education discretionary funding and likely affect Title II and Title IV grants the district uses for specialized programs.

Key budget choices and likely impacts

- Personnel and programs: The budget preserves funding for current permanent positions and honors existing employee contracts, but some grant-funded roles will not return if funds disappear. Amanda said the district will not continue a math specialist position previously supported with one-time or grant funds; the district also expects to absorb two PE positions and is not filling some education-assistant vacancies as staff leave.

- Grants and targeted funds: Amanda outlined several revenue sources the district depends on, including Title I, the Student Investment Account (SIA/Measure 98), IDEA, early literacy grants and the curriculum rotation account (Fund 101). She said the district receives about $153,000 in SIA this year and warned that higher accountability and new timing rules (spending deadlines) make some uses more constrained.

- Capital and accounting moves: Bond-related capital spending is winding down, lowering the capital projects fund balance. Amanda described a planned coding change for the new bus barn (moving it from facility construction codes to transportation codes) after consultation with the Oregon Department of Education so the district can pursue depreciation reimbursement. Separately, accounting "cleanup" will reclassify historically miscoded extra-pay items into the additional-salary object code (130), which affects year-over-year percentage comparisons.

- Reserves and contingency: The proposed budget uses a beginning cash balance of roughly $3.1 million and a $415,000 contingency to smooth operations. Amanda cautioned that next year (the second year of the district's two-year budget view) could be tighter and require additional cuts unless revenues improve.

Numbers cited in presentation

- Proposed total budget: $20,257,706. - Beginning general fund cash: approximately $3,100,000. - Contingency: $415,000. - Proposed FTE: 109.98 (current actual ~109.69). - Planned reductions: just over $1,000,000 (after $1,200,000 in prior-year cuts).

What officials said

Amanda explained the district's conservative approach: "We tried to be somewhat conservative while at the same time, hearing what other districts around Oregon are doing and just kinda doing our best to hope that it comes in somewhere near." A committee member (S4) praised the budget, saying it preserved key services and honored contracts.

Next steps and process

The budget committee asked members and the public to submit questions to the district office by 5 p.m. on May 19; the transcript records the committee scheduling a follow-up meeting for May 21 at 5:30 p.m. and a public hearing and subsequent board meeting on Monday, June 9 at 4:30 p.m., at which the board would consider adopting the budget, enacting appropriation resolutions and declaring the tax levy. A motion to adjourn was moved late in the transcript; the vote and formal closure were not recorded in the provided transcript.

Limitations and sources

This article draws directly from the budget committee's presentation and ensuing discussion recorded in the meeting transcript (budget message, fund breakdowns, staffing and grant commentary). Where the transcript supplies exact figures or direct quotes, they are reported above. Some scheduling references in the transcript conflicted in casual remarks; the meeting packet and district office (as noted by the presenter) remain the authoritative source for final adoption dates and approved figures.