Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westminster Public Schools presents proposed 2026–27 budget, flags enrollment decline and pay increases
Summary
CFO Brisa Montgomery presented the proposed 2026–27 budget to the Westminster Public Schools board, outlining a projected enrollment decline, a per-pupil funding figure of $13,117, and $3.8 million in salary/benefit increases while preserving reserves for bond and one-time expenses.
Brisa Montgomery, presenting the district's proposed budget for 2026'27, told the Board of Education that Westminster Public Schools had 6,846 students as of October 2025 and is projecting enrollment to decline to about 6,555 next year. Montgomery said the district's per-pupil funding under the new state school finance formula is $13,117 for 2026'27 and that personnel costs remain the largest budget driver.
The presentation set out the district's timeline and priorities: a salary and benefits package (the second year of an agreement) that Montgomery estimated at about $3,800,000; continued districtwide athletics and expanded CTE class funding; $1.1 million allocated for kindergarten paraprofessionals for reading support; and $1,000,000 earmarked to complete two elementary playgrounds. Montgomery said the general fund projects salaries and benefits of nearly $106,000,000 and that the general fund uses some fund balance for intentional one-time expenses while the building fund continues to spend proceeds from the 2024 bond issuance.
Why it matters: Montgomery warned the board that the 2024 state school finance formula counts students on a three-year average, reducing the funded student count for districts like WPS during the early years of implementation. She said year-two of the formula's implementation yields only about 30% of the long-term funding benefit and full effect will phase in over several years, which leaves a funding gap between the district's actual per-student cost and state funding. During questions, Montgomery stated the district's total cost to educate one student is about $19,000, meaning the district must identify additional revenue or reserves to cover program costs beyond the $13,117 per-pupil amount.
Board members pressed for clarifications on insurance renewals and state equalization mechanics; Montgomery explained that increased local property-tax revenue reduces state equalization so the district's overall funding level remains largely unchanged by that shift. She also reviewed staffing assumptions: the general-fund projection included 894 FTEs (about 55% licensed staff, 35% educational support and 9% administration) and a beginning teacher salary shown at $64,018 in the comparative table the presentation included.
Next steps: Montgomery presented the proposed budget for board consideration in May ahead of the final budget adoption in June and noted the administration will return with the final adoption documents. The presentation included supporting slides and the district will continue stakeholder engagement before final action.
