Board approves Kent ISD 2026–27 budget submission after reviewing assumptions

The Cedar Springs board added the Kent ISD 2026–27 annual budget to its action items and approved the ISD budget submission May 11 after a staff overview of assumptions and program impacts.

Staff described the ISD’s high‑level assumptions used to build its budget package: local revenue growth assumptions (a 5% projection assuming rollbacks), an expected $250 per‑pupil increase in the foundation allowance reflected across state proposals, a projected 2.5% increase in unrestricted state operational funding, and a 21.2% projected decrease in investment income. The ISD’s total budget figure was presented as $463 million, with the general fund about $95.5 million and the largest single fund being special education at $237.7 million.

Staff also noted planned transfers and distributions in the ISD budget: a proposed $10 million transfer into a special education capital project fund and a $3.5 million supplemental Act 18 distribution for local districts (a modest decrease from the prior year’s $3.8 million). Career and technical education funds were described separately with an intentional drawdown of part of a previously large fund balance.

On the action items, the board approved adding the ISD budget submission to the agenda and then approved the submission by roll call. Staff recommended returning paperwork to the ISD in time for the ISD’s June 1 review and said the ISD would reimburse participating districts for part of the cost of shared initiatives such as the School Links program if districts opt in.

The board recorded votes on this and other action items, approved field trip requests and a package of policy actions during the same meeting.