Laramie County School District #1 hears preliminary 2027 budget projecting $278.7 million general fund and proposed $20 million pay package

At its regular meeting, Laramie County School District #1 Trustees heard a preliminary 2027 budget presentation from Chief Financial Officer Jed Ciccarelli that lays out the district’s major funding assumptions and capital priorities. Ciccarelli said the district’s combined expenditure requests across six major funds exceed $553,000,000, with the general fund appropriation request totaling roughly $278,700,000.

"Our district's operations are categorized into ... six major funds with a combined total of more than $553,000,000 in expenditure requests," Ciccarelli told the board. He said capital construction requests total about $146,000,000 and that block‑grant resources are estimated at about $195,800,000 for planning purposes.

The presentation flagged enrollment and funding changes that will shape next year’s budget. Ciccarelli said October enrollment counts decreased by about 367 students (roughly 2.7%), and that changes tied to recent legislation and recalibration (Senate File 81) are shifting components of the funding model. He told trustees the district expects an estimated one‑year operating deficit of about $9,000,000 in preliminary figures but said timing, encumbrances and true‑ups make that figure likely to change before a final July budget vote.

Ciccarelli summarized personnel and benefits proposals that would accompany the budget. The district proposed a $20,000,000 compensation package that includes a base adjustment for certified staff of about $8,325; Ciccarelli said that at the upper end of the salary schedule, combined step increases and the base adjustment could produce increases of up to roughly 16.5% for some certified staff. Classified staff averages were projected near 6.7%, with professional/administrative increases nearer 5% on average. To offset those costs, Ciccarelli said the district plans reductions in non‑personnel school budgets (about 5%) and department budgets (about 10%).

On health benefits, Ciccarelli said the district is shifting to an internal service fund to manage a self‑funded health plan. That fund is budgeted to collect employer/employee contributions (projected revenue roughly $59,650,000) and to pay expected claims and plan administration; projected ending reserves for that fund were presented as roughly $13,270,000, which Ciccarelli said is necessary to manage claims volatility under a self‑insured model. He also noted plan design changes that include a $1,000 deductible and other cost containment strategies.

Trustees asked questions about the impact on nutrition services and how school‑level and department budget officers will manage reductions. Ciccarelli said nutrition costs and other funding matters tied to the state recalibration process will be addressed during interim committee work and that the district will refine estimates before the final budget is brought back for formal board action in July.

The presentation also identified capital priorities including Mountain View and Arb elementary projects, East High School expansion and Hobbs design work, and emphasized that the full $146,000,000 capital request will likely be obligated across multiple fiscal years rather than spent entirely in Fiscal Year 2027.

The board did not take action on the preliminary budget at the meeting; Ciccarelli said further refinements will be provided in workshops and in the final July budget packet.