Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Preliminary FY27 budget: Gustafson presents $5.1M of available recurring funds, hold‑harmless caveats
Summary
Budget director presented a preliminary FY2026–27 budget that identifies about $5.1 million in available recurring resources under current assumptions, highlights hold‑harmless one‑time funding from the state, and outlines strategies to rebuild reserves amid enrollment and compensation uncertainties.
Budget Director Brian Gustafson presented the Poudre School District R-1 preliminary fiscal‑year 2026–27 budget in the meeting’s informational segment, describing revenue and expenditure assumptions and the next steps in the formal three‑step adoption process.
Gustafson said the district’s program estimate for FY27 is about $325.2 million with a funded pupil count of roughly 27,786.1 and an illustrative per‑pupil amount of about $11,705 under the School Finance Act assumptions used for this draft. He said projected local mill levy override revenue is about $66 million and noted charter allocations will continue to reduce the district’s retained program funding. Combining anticipated revenues and beginning balances, the draft shows about a $5.1 million difference available for ongoing recurring uses as the district completes compensation negotiations and other adjustments.
Gustafson emphasized that the estimate is a draft and contingent on final state‑level school finance numbers. He detailed planned uses and risks: a proposed reserve for funding uncertainty (~$7 million referenced as an allocation approach), expected increases in health benefits (~5%, roughly $1.6M), projected student‑based budget reductions (~$8.2M) tied to declining enrollment, and about $2.9M in central department reductions already identified. He said the district will prioritize rebuilding contingency reserves and assigned reserves to reach target levels.
Next steps: a proposed budget presentation is scheduled for May 26 and formal adoption for June 9 (must be adopted by June 30). Gustafson said staff will continue to refine assumptions as state figures and compensation decisions are finalized.
Board members asked clarifying questions about insurance costs, charter growth assumptions, restricted reserves and reserve accounting.
