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Poudre School District previews FY2026—027 budget as board weighs compensation and reserves
Summary
District staff presented a proposed FY2026—027 budget with relatively flat state program funding, a negotiated $5.4M compensation package to close a prior gap, and assignment of a $5.9M hold-harmless reserve; board members pressed for detailed line-item clarifications and reserve planning.
Poudre School District's finance team presented the district's proposed fiscal year 2026—27 budget at the May 26 board meeting, explaining how recent legislative outcomes and negotiated compensation changes shape a balanced proposal that preserves reserves while funding salary increases.
Key numbers: Staff said state program funding would equate to about $11,600 per funded pupil next year, roughly flat with current projections. A previously identified gap between available revenue and planned expenditures (about $5.4 million) was addressed via a negotiated compensation package that allocates roughly $3.5 million for licensed staff, $1.3 million for classified staff and about $0.5 million for administrative and professional staff. That package brings recurring compensation increases into the proposed base budget.
Reserves and risk management: The district proposed assigning approximately $5.9 million to a reserve labeled 'funding uncertainty' (hold-harmless) to insulate the operating budget against late-state changes or mid-year funding rescissions. Staff will continue to rebuild general reserves, moving toward a multi-year target for unassigned and appropriated reserves.
Site and central reductions: To align the expenditure plan with available revenue, staff said school-based budgets were reduced year-over-year (an $8.2 million reduction in student-based budgets) and some central department lines were trimmed ($3.6 million). The proposed budget also contains placeholders for fuel, utilities and insurance increases.
Board questions and next steps: Directors asked for clarity on several line items where estimated actuals diverged from prior-year budgets (elementary school allocations, curriculum implementation carryover, central administrative coding changes) and asked how the district would respond to a possible future state rescission. Budget staff explained estimated-actuals and carryover mechanics (unspent project dollars remain in reserves until used), and said the board will adopt the appropriation resolution in June; the district may amend the budget through Jan. 31 if circumstances change.
What to watch: The CPC consolidation timeline approved the same night will interact with budget choices; closure recommendations, if any, will include project-level costs and transition investments. The board will consider the formal appropriation at its June meeting and expect monthly updates as the summer work progresses.
