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Board staff previews 2026–27 budget outlook; members ask for prioritized funding requests and local feedback
Summary
Staff presented a high-level 2026–27 budget comparison showing about a 4% overall increase and a 4.2% WPU change; committee members asked staff to return with juxtaposition of board funding requests versus what was funded and to gather local feedback to set priorities for the next legislative session.
School finance director Sam Yuri walked the committee through a high-level comparison of the 2026–27 public education budget, which staff estimated as roughly a 4% overall increase and a 4.2% change in the weighted pupil unit (WPU). Yuri noted the mix of funding sources can shift based on property tax projections and enrollment.
Members pressed for more concrete context before finalizing legislative asks. "We need to show legislators not only what we want but where we will cut if we prioritize one item over another," one member said, echoing staff counsel that lawmakers want realistic, balanced requests rather than a long list of unfunded asks.
The committee requested three items from staff: a) a side-by-side of last year’s board requests and what the legislature actually funded; b) feedback gathered from local districts, charter representatives and local boards about which programs had the most local support or concern; and c) cost estimates for potential WPU adjustments and targeted FTE requests. Members emphasized that showing trade-offs helps lawmakers decide which items to fund.
No formal motions were taken on specific budget items; staff agreed to return with the requested materials at a future meeting so the committee can refine priorities for a possible board legislative package.
