Stillwater budget update: district projects a $5.5 million shortfall; $5.4 million in reductions identified

Marie (speaker 18), the district budget lead, briefed the board on the district's priority-based budgeting and updated revenue and expenditure projections.

Marie said the district is working with conservative enrollment assumptions (current K–12 enrollment cited as 8,077 as of April 1) and is monitoring state, federal and grant revenue changes. She identified compensation (salaries and benefits), transportation and special education as the major cost drivers.

On revenue, Marie said recent state projections trimmed some categories by about $200,000 while federal entitlements improved by a similar amount; overall the district's projected general-fund revenue for fiscal 26–27 was cited at about $156 million and expenditures at roughly $161.5 million, leaving a roughly $5.5 million gap.

Marie reported the district has identified about $5.4 million in reductions and adjustments to date and expects to refine those figures ahead of the June budget-approval meeting; she said the board will receive a revised quarterly update in early May with more detail.

Board members asked for ongoing quarterly reporting and more detail on the entries making up the reductions. Marie said the district is completing allocation work with schools and programs and will provide more granular adjustment columns in future updates.

Marie closed by noting the district continues to pursue targeted revenue opportunities (open enrollment, grants) while trying to protect core programs. The board will consider the formal budget recommendation at its June meeting.