Upper Adams SD projects $1.9M shortfall as board prepares preliminary 2026'27 budget

District staff presented a conservative preliminary budget for fiscal 2026'27 that, under current assumptions, leaves the Upper Adams School District about $1.9 million short.

Shelley (district business officer) told the Business & Operations committee the model holds state funding flat, assumes 75% of current federal levels and uses historical trends for local revenue. "When you look at the revenue and the expenditures at this point, we do have a deficit that we would need to cover of about 1,900,000.0," Shelley said.

Shelley walked members through major revenue drivers, noting local real-estate taxes and homestead/farmstead allocations are large and partly unpredictable until courthouse and state figures are finalized. She said the district typically splits revenue roughly half local, half state and that the governor's proposals could add about $405,000 in state basic education aid but those figures were not included in the conservative projection.

On the expense side, Shelley said salaries and benefits remain the primary cost centers and that capital projects are budgeted in a separate fund. She estimated projected expenditures near $39 million and described roughly 3'5% of the budget as effectively discretionary once bond payments and contract obligations are considered.

Members questioned several cost items and asked for detail on special-education placements and staffing impacts. Weigel (finance presenter) noted recent donation activity and one board member called for detailed inspection reports where large capital proposals are later discussed.

The district will need to approve a preliminary budget at the May 19 meeting; final adoption is scheduled for June 16 and the final budget cannot exceed the preliminary one, Shelley said. She urged the board to review linked documents and to expect updates as state numbers and enrollment data are finalized.