Finance committee forwards 2026–27 preliminary budget to the board with positive recommendation

The Germantown School District finance committee voted June 16 to forward the district’s 2026–27 preliminary budget to the full board with a positive recommendation.

Finance staff summarized the budget’s key assumptions: as of the June 4 enrollment pull, the district projected a net decrease of 117 students for next school year; the state biennial budget includes a permanent member-adjustment of $325 per student; and staff modeled a 4.66% drop in state aid tied to timing and expenditure changes. "We have a decrease of 117 students," finance staff said when describing the enrollment assumption used to build the preliminary levy and expenditures.

The committee discussed other assumptions incorporated into the plan, including a 0% projection for health-insurance increases because of favorable self-funded experience, a modest dental increase, a planned capital projects fund contribution returning to roughly $650,000, and a wage-increase assumption of about 2.63%. Staff also reviewed open enrollment projections (the budget models net outflow) and the conservative approach to special-education aid, budgeting at approximately 38.39% of prior-year special-education expenditures rather than the 42% figure that appears in the biennial statute.

Why it matters: the budget assumptions determine next year’s levy and staffing plans. Committee members asked for continued monitoring of state-aid developments, potential legislative changes and the impact of changing enrollments.

What the committee did: after discussion, the finance committee amended and approved a motion to send the preliminary budget to the full board with a positive recommendation. Staff will continue refining assumptions and will update the board as final state numbers become available before the October budget/levy deadlines.

The recommendation will be considered at the board’s next meeting.