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Astoria SD 1 previews budget pain points: enrollment decline, high SPED share and state funding uncertainty
Summary
The board received an early budget guide showing enrollment at about 1,712 students, special education at 18% (funded at roughly 11%), and potential state funding cuts that could affect the district. Presenters cited PERS uncertainty and recent mandated benefit costs as near‑term budget pressures.
At an information session the board reviewed an early budget guide and enrollment forecasting intended to give the district more planning time. The presentation stressed that the district is funded on average daily membership (ADM) and is operating with lower enrollment than in prior years.
The presenter said the district currently reports about 1,712 students and highlighted that special education accounts for roughly 18% of students while state funding aligns to about 11%, producing an estimated funding shortfall the presenter characterized as about $700,000. "We get funded for 11%. That's a short goal of potential funding of $700,000 to us," the presenter said.
Board members discussed other structural budget risks: uncertainty about the PERS (public employee retirement system) rate in 2027–28; mandated employee benefits costs tied to unemployment claims during school breaks (reported as $93,870 in 2024 and $90,662 in 2025); and limits on Title I and SIA eligibility for charter students. The presenter said health insurance contracts are set through mid‑2025 and that some known personnel costs are therefore stable for the coming budget cycle.
Other operational notes included a pause on vehicle purchases (buses/vans) because repair costs have climbed; ongoing community eligibility for free breakfast and lunch; and a specialty consortium evaluation that found the district's participation remains financially beneficial. The presentation also noted a $120,000 reallocation within the high‑school success budget that requires cuts elsewhere.
The board received the guide for planning; no formal budget adoption occurred. Staff said more detailed budget work will continue through the regular session and that action items will come to the board in future meetings.
