Budget committee elects new leadership and hears proposed 2026–27 budget with $5.3M in cuts

The Bend‑LaPine Administrative SD 1 Budget Committee convened March 17, elected Apollo Agiri as the 2026–27 budget committee chair and Natasha McFarland as vice chair, and received a full briefing on the district’s proposed budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

Administrators told the committee the district faces a tighter fiscal environment driven by slower state revenue growth, rising fixed costs and mandates, and flat or declining federal grant dollars. Superintendent Dr. Steve Cook framed the work as requiring “discipline, transparency, and strategic” allocation of resources to protect instructional priorities and student supports.

Chief Financial Officer Dan Emerson said personnel now represents roughly 85% of the general‑fund operating budget and presented a proposed personnel appropriation of about $195.1 million. To balance the general fund, the administration proposed $5.3 million in reductions — roughly 2.7% of requested personnel — with about 75% of the total cuts coming from personnel and the remainder from materials and services. Emerson said the district is still modeling how much of those reductions can be absorbed through attrition versus involuntary transfers or RIFF processes.

Budget director Nick Shane described the revenue side: the state school fund is the district’s largest revenue source (Shane cited total SSF-related resources of $236.6 million in the presentation, with $114.3 million from the state and $122.3 million from local property‑tax related allocations). Shane also reported estimates for targeted grants including a Student Investment Account (SIA) allocation of about $16.7 million and a High School Success (HSS) grant of roughly $5.2 million; federal Title and IDEA funds were cited near $2.8 million and $2.2 million respectively and described as flat or trending downward.

Emerson summarized the bottom line for the proposed budget: the package under discussion would leave an estimated ending fund balance of $19.8 million (about 8.5% of resources), above the board’s 5% policy floor for FY27, but he warned the committee that without continued actions the district risks falling below the 5% reserve in FY28, which could create cash‑flow and credit‑rating challenges.

The committee heard a series of follow‑up questions about timing: administrators said staff typically notify the district by April 15 about intentions that affect attrition modeling and that firmer staffing and budget actions will be clearer after late April. The board scheduled additional work between now and the May meeting, when a vote to approve the proposed budget is expected.

The committee adjourned after the presentation; the next meeting is scheduled for May 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.