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Budget committee approves amended $13.93 million Colton School District 53 budget, raises AD stipend
Summary
The Colton School District 53 budget committee approved the 2026–27 budget as amended, totaling $13,931,275, set a permanent tax rate of 4.9801 per $1,000 and approved several line-item amendments including an increase to the high-school athletic director stipend and the addition of a 3.75-hour custodial position.
The Colton School District 53 budget committee voted to approve the district's 2026–27 budget as amended, adopting a $13,931,275 aggregate budget and setting a permanent tax rate of 4.9801 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Chair (S4) read the resolution aloud before the committee voted to approve the document as presented. The committee's actions included an approved increase to the high-school athletic director stipend and the authorization of at least one part-time custodial position at 3.75 hours per day; several other proposed items were discussed and either deferred or failed to reach approval during the session.
Why this matters: the budget committee's recommendations shape how the district will allocate local funds for staffing, facility upkeep and extracurricular programs for the coming fiscal year. Committee members framed many of the amendments as reallocations from the contingency or by using a higher-than-projected beginning fund balance rather than increasing the total budget.
During presentation, staff member (S3) walked the committee through a packet of detailed line items and underlying assumptions, noting district enrollment (ODE fall ADM reported at 579) and a net planned FTE increase districtwide from 69.92 to 74.19 driven by preschool, special education and instructional adjustments.
On specific amendments, committee members approved a motion to raise the high-school athletic director stipend by a total cost of approximately $4,360 after members compared stipends across districts and debated duties, payroll costs and retention needs. The committee also approved funding for a 3.75-hour-per-day custodial/grounds position to address landscape and athletic-field maintenance needs; members discussed whether to complement that hire with scheduled contractor visits.
Several proposals did not pass. A recommendation to fund additional seasonal supervision stipends for sporting events (a $6,750 extra-duty proposal) failed to achieve the committee's required support. A separate motion to add $5,000 for sports travel also failed in committee votes.
Committee members repeatedly emphasized trade-offs: using contingency or fund balance for near-term needs reduces reserves available for unplanned facility repairs, while failing to act on grounds and custodial staffing leaves appearance and field conditions to community concern.
Next steps: the budget committee approved the amended budget and recorded the recommendation on the record; the committee adjourned at 07:56. The committee's recommendation will be part of the district's formal budget process moving toward the board for adoption and implementation.
