Board reviews preliminary 2026–27 budget; proposed final budget to be voted next week

District finance staff presented a preliminary update to the 2026–27 budget on April 7 and told the board the proposed final budget will be presented for a vote next week.

Staff reported they increased budgeted earned‑income‑tax revenue by $50,000 based on stronger collections and cited a projected budget surplus of roughly $72,985 in the current snapshot. The presenter said collections with the district’s collector have been “really strong this year” and cited an expected collection figure in the presentation. Expenditure totals were described as unchanged in the update.

The presenter said that after the board votes on the proposed final budget next week it will be made available to the public for a 30‑day inspection period; the board is scheduled to take final action to adopt the budget on June 8. Staff also noted a previously communicated projected shortfall of approximately $300,000 had been revised to about $44,000 in more recent estimates as spending‑pattern assumptions were updated.

Board members asked whether the budget assumes any new staffing and were told no staffing increases were included at this time; staff said they are exploring alternatives (shared services, other funding sources) should the board later decide to add positions. Members also asked about mercantile‑tax and assessment timing; staff explained assessed‑value adjustments can occur midyear through appeals or interim assessments and described the county’s role in the duplicate used for tax calculations.

No formal budget vote occurred at the April 7 meeting; the board was asked to consider the proposed final budget at next week’s meeting.