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Finance director outlines proposed 2026–27 budget and a 2025–26 final revision
Summary
Director of finance Jared Immel presented the 2025–26 final revision and the proposed 2026–27 budget: a $10,300 per-pupil foundation allowance assumption, a projected enrollment decrease of 10 students, expected changes to state subsidies, and a forecasted $300,000 increase to fund balance to about 6.9%; administration emphasized the uncertainty until the state budget is finalized.
Director of finance Jared Immel presented the board with a proposed 2026–27 budget and a final revision to the 2025–26 budget on June 8.
For 2025–26, Immel said local revenue increased (non-homestead property tax) and state revenue correspondingly decreased; the only notable expenditure change was a recode of certain special-education expenses to align with Michigan Department of Education guidance. For 2026–27, assumptions include a foundation allowance of $10,300 per pupil, a projected drop of 10 students, loss of the 3% MIPRES health subsidy, and a 2.5% decrease in retirement rate. The budget also assumes Section 31a mental-health funding budgeted at $400,000 and the loss of one cyber-security grant (under $100,000).
Immel said the district expects approximately a $300,000 increase to fund balance, taking the fund-balance projection to roughly 6.9%. He emphasized that the district must adopt a budget before the state finalizes its budget and that actual student counts and state aid will continue to be monitored; the official pupil-count day and state budget timing can shift numbers after adoption.
Board members asked for clarifications on the recode of special-education expenses (an accounting recoding, not a service reduction), the drivers of projected pupil declines (graduation class sizes and kindergarten cohort size), and the district’s timeline for revising budgets once state figures are finalized. Immel said the district will provide updates and treat mid-year budget amendments as needed when actuals are known.
