ROCORI projects $34.7M FY27 budget with $155,000 shortfall; officials warn of possible special-education cuts

ROCORI Public School District staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, saying total revenues are projected at $34.7 million — up about $1.1 million from FY26 — while expenditures match that figure, leaving a projected $155,000 deficit.

The staff presenter said the district’s baseline general state aid rose by 2.69% this year and reported a per-pupil funding level of $9,219. “The state can give anywhere from a 2% to a 3% range in statute. So this year, they went with a 2.69%,” the staff member said. He also reviewed FY21–FY27 enrollment history and an initial projection for next year that will be refined before the board finalizes the levy.

The district’s unassigned general-fund balance is projected to fall slightly from about $1.7 million to $1,687,000 in FY27 after a planned reclassification of a severance line. Staff emphasized the change is already reflected in the budget worksheets and will be monitored.

Administrators highlighted several program-level pressures. Community education and preschool programming were described as running at a deficit; staff said they plan to examine program fees and operational efficiencies and expect to begin a fee increase next January. Food service currently shows a roughly $11,000 deficit after substantial equipment purchases in recent years; staff warned that a proposed drop in state meal-reimbursement rates (from 12.5 to 6.5 cents in a stated example for FY28) could further strain that fund.

Capital and facility needs were also discussed. Staff reported tentative remaining bond proceeds of about $697,000 tied to long-term facilities and maintenance (LTFM) and said final invoices on a recent HVAC project are still being resolved; depending on final costs, those dollars could fund one or two additional HVAC units.

Staff also called attention to special-education funding. “For FY'27 we do have some additional revenue coming in, but looking at FY'28 and going forward they're looking at cutting $250,000,000, so we'll have to see how that impacts the budget going forward,” the staff member said, noting that any large statewide reductions would require the district to reassess its assumptions.

Board members asked about the composition of elementary-services costs (classroom teachers, student support and nursing were included) and heard staff explain that staffing mix, retirements and experience levels drive per-building variation. The transportation contract term and upcoming routing reviews were also discussed and will be revisited over the summer once new bus equipment and routing data are in place.

The board was told the administration will tidy up enrollment numbers and return with a finalized budget at the next meeting. “We’ll have it for you at the next meeting,” a board member said.