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District projects roughly $900,000 deficit for 2026–27 as enrollment and state funding fall
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Summary
Superintendent told the Crawford Co. R-II board the district faces an estimated $900,000 deficit for 2026–27 driven by a drop in average daily attendance, lower state funding and rising insurance costs; board members urged cautious use of one-time reserves.
The Crawford Co. R-II superintendent told the school board the district is facing a roughly $900,000 deficit for the 2026–27 school year, driven primarily by lower state funding and declining student enrollment.
“We're looking at deficit spending for next year, dollars 900,000,” the superintendent said during the meeting, and reported the state has reduced the student adequacy target to 6,700 — a change the superintendent said will reduce district revenue by about $252,000. He also cited an additional projected revenue decrease of $95,000 and an expected $125,000 rise in health insurance costs built into current projections.
Why it matters: the superintendent said reserves that were near 72% this year are projected to fall to about 65% next year, and could decline further if statewide funding pressures continue. He told the board the state is short roughly $2,000,000,000 and noted planned cuts will tighten finances over the next several years.
Board reaction centered on how to balance near-term needs with long-term stability. One board member said the district’s reserves are unusually high compared with peer districts and suggested some funds be considered to support teacher pay increases and retention efforts. “I still think our reserves is high,” the board member said, urging discussion about possible salary adjustments. Other members cautioned that much of the district’s fund balance stems from one-time COVID-era and federal relief funds, and that drawing down reserves too quickly could leave the district vulnerable to future shocks.
The superintendent flagged additional uncertainties: several legislative proposals affecting salary schedules could require automatic increases — he referenced language that would permit up to 3% annual increases and said districts cannot architect tiered salary schedules to avoid those statutory triggers. He also noted the district will monitor a special state finance meeting and that some figures remain contingent on final legislative outcomes.
Next steps: the superintendent said staff will continue to refine projections and present options to the board; he pointed to a forthcoming special finance meeting at the state level and said the board will need to consider staffing and salary strategy as part of the 26–27 budget process.
