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Ocean View projects tighter finances as enrollment drops; board hears preliminary 2026–27 budget
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Keith Pharaoh told the board June 9 that Ocean View School District has lost nearly 23% of enrollment since 2016–17 and projects a further 186‑student decline for 2026–27, with a roughly $2.5 million revenue impact; staff presented a multi‑year projection and cautioned that salary settlements and final state budget action could change outcomes.
Ocean View School District staff presented a preliminary 2026–27 budget June 9 that shows continued fiscal pressure as enrollment declines and contributions to restricted programs remain necessary.
"Since 2016–17, Ocean View School District enrollment has declined by nearly 23 percent," Assistant Superintendent and Chief Business Official Keith Pharaoh told trustees. He said staff project a further decline of about 186 students for 2026–27, which he estimated would mean roughly $2.5 million less in funding because the outgoing eighth‑grade cohort outpaces incoming kindergarteners.
Pharaoh walked trustees through budget assumptions (including a May revision that raised the 2026–27 COLA to about 4.31 percent), program contributions, and a multi‑year projection showing deficit spending in the near term unless revenue or program contributions change. He warned that tentative labor agreements and any negotiated salary increases would materially affect the projection: "A 3 percent salary increase would increase deficit spending across the projection period and reduce the ending fund balance by more than half," he said.
Trustees and the superintendent discussed causes for enrollment decline and local pressures. Several board members pointed to housing affordability and broader demographic trends as primary drivers. One trustee also raised concerns about immigration‑related effects on enrollment in neighborhoods with high immigrant populations. Trustees praised staff for conservative planning and noted the district’s effort to preserve program stability.
The district presented the budget with a "positive" certification but said it may return with updates after the state budget is finalized. The board opened and closed a public hearing on the preliminary budget with no public speakers.
Next steps: the district will bring the 2026–27 budget back for final adoption at a future meeting after the state budget is signed and as negotiations or other assumptions change.
