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Forest Grove board adopts $180.45 million budget, sets tax rate and approves SRO and service contracts
Summary
On June 9 the Forest Grove School District board adopted a $180,451,924 budget for 2026–27, approved a permanent property tax rate of $4.9142 per $1,000 and a debt service levy of $14,130,480, and approved a set of contracts including a one‑SRO agreement and special‑education placement funding.
The Forest Grove School District Board of Directors on June 9 adopted a $180,451,924 budget for fiscal year 2026–27 and set the permanent property tax rate at $4.9142 per $1,000 of assessed value, with a separate debt service levy of $14,130,480 to pay general obligation bond debt.
Board members voted on the budget by roll call; Alma Lozano, Risa (Briea) Franco, Kate Graeski, Pete Truax and Christy Cocky were recorded as voting in favor. The board also approved a package of contracts and service agreements during the meeting’s action items.
Why it matters: The budget and tax resolutions determine local revenue available for staffing, programs and capital needs across the district. The board’s action also formalizes near‑term service arrangements — including school safety and student supports — that affect operations for the coming school year.
The board approved a continuation contract with the Forest Grove Police Department for one school resource officer (SRO) this year and kept an option to add a second SRO if the department hires an additional officer. Dr. West presented the SRO agreement as a continuation of a long‑standing partnership; the motion to approve the contract passed with one recorded opposition.
Other approved contracts listed in the board packet and approved at the meeting include: up to $117,778 for a special school placement at Serendipity Center for a student with an Individualized Education Program; an increased Youth Contact contract (therapeutic services at the high school and Quality Plains) for a 1.0 FTE with an amount noted in the meeting as about $69,218; Flashlight 360 (EL progress monitoring) for $79,600; Panorama renewal for $7,600; and K–6 MClass/Amplify and Boost reading renewals not to exceed approximately $164,800.
Dr. West and other board members thanked staff and community volunteers and emphasized the difficulty of the budget choices. One director said the district had sought community input and staff had worked to respond to budget constraints and public feedback. The board also unanimously moved to extend the superintendent’s employment contract through June 30, 2029, after a motion by Dr. West.
Votes at a glance: the budget and tax adoption was approved by roll call (Lozano, Franco, Graeski, Truax, Cocky: yes). Several contract approvals were adopted by voice vote; where roll‑call tallies were recorded, they are noted above.
Next steps: The district will post the adopted budget and tax resolutions and proceed with contract implementation for the 2026–27 school year.
