Elizabeth School District posts draft 2026–27 budget, board accepts draft and schedules public hearing

The Elizabeth School District board reviewed the posted draft 2026–27 budget at its May 26 business meeting and voted to accept the draft for further refinement, while scheduling a public budget hearing for June 9 at 6:00 p.m.

A presenter who said they have recently taken on the district’s CFO responsibilities described the budget as a draft the district is still processing and said, "I am concerned at our fund balance at the end of the year." The presenter told members the draft assumes steady enrollment (with a new charter school opening) and continues to fund athletics "at about a half $1,000,000" (as spoken in the meeting) and restores the capital improvement fund. The presenter also said the district is projecting roughly a 17% increase in property/liability insurance costs.

Board members discussed staffing priorities, including adding math interventionists while looking for offsetting cuts. The presenter said the district will continue reviewing expenditures and invited the community to comment at the June 9 meeting, when the board will hold a public budget hearing.

Votes at a glance - Motion: "Accept the 2026–27 proposed budget as presented" — motion seconded and recorded as passing in the transcript; three affirmative 'Aye' responses were documented. (Transcript records three 'Aye' responses; not all individual votes were echoed verbally in the record.)

The board also reviewed other fund structures the district operates, including a food service fund, student activity fund (fund 26), capital reserve, and a restored self-insurance fund. The presenter said the district is moving away from CEBT insurance toward a self-insurance model working with a broker and a low-cost provider option for staff.

The board will continue to refine the draft budget and present updates ahead of the June 9 public hearing.