Three Rivers board adopts $111.55 million 2026–27 budget, sets tax levy; several contracts and resolutions approved

The Three Rivers/Josephine County Joint School District Board of Directors adopted a $111,550,490 budget and declared an operations tax levy of $3.7262 per $1,000 of assessed value for fiscal year 2026–27, the board announced after a voice vote.

The resolution (read into the record by district staff) said the appropriations and levy are on file in the district administration office and authorized amounts beginning July 1, 2026. A motion to adopt was made and seconded; the presiding officer called for the vote and recorded no opposition.

Why it matters: The budget and levy provide the primary legal authority for district spending and local property tax revenue for district operations beginning July 1. The board’s adoption allows administration to implement the 2026–27 spending plan and levy the approved rate on assessed value.

Votes at a glance (voice votes recorded in meeting minutes): - Resolution 2526-07 — Adopt 2026–27 budget and declare tax levy: approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - High school course statements — German 1–4 at Hidden Valley: approved. - Certified employee group contract (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029): approved; board and Three Rivers Education Association leaders described the successor bargaining as collaborative. - Confidential employee group agreement (3% COLA, date change): approved. - Fiscal resolution 2526-08 — interfund transfer under ORS 294.463: approved. - Fiscal resolution 2526-09 — transfer to carryover fund (not to exceed $182,230): approved. - Sunny Wolf (Wolf Creek) charter five-year renewal: approved. - Annual organization resolutions (officers, depositories, auditors, legal counsel): approved.

What trustees said: Finance staff (Jeffrey Butler) framed the fiscal resolutions as routine transfers that keep the district compliant with Oregon statute ORS 294.463. Board members praised the recently completed bargaining process with the teachers’ association and described the certified contract as a collaborative outcome.

Procedural next steps: With the budget and related resolutions adopted, administration is authorized to finalize carryover transfers and implement the approved spending plan. The board also set the 2026–27 regular meeting calendar (third Wednesdays, with four student panels scheduled) and designated depositories and auditors for the coming year.

Provenance: The budget resolution text and vote were introduced in the meeting packet and read into the record (meeting segments beginning with presentation of the resolution and continuing through the adoption vote).