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Forest Hills Board approves budget amendments, wage settlements and contracts after 2026–27 budget hearing
Summary
After a public hearing on the proposed 2026–27 budget, the Forest Hills Board of Education adopted budget amendments and the 2026–27 appropriations, approved multiple vendor contracts and ratified wage-and-benefit agreements for staff groups; the district projects lower fund balances next year amid $2.94 million in grant reductions.
The Forest Hills Board of Education on June 17 held a public hearing on the district’s proposed 2026–27 budget and then, during its regular agenda, approved several budget amendments, vendor contracts and wage-and-benefit agreements.
The meeting opened with the board chair calling the hearing to order and announcing two public comment periods; there were no public commenters for the budget hearing. A district finance presenter told the board the proposed budget assumes a $250 per-pupil increase in the state foundation allowance (about $2.1 million), a projected enrollment decline of 79 students (about $794,000), and the removal of multiple one-time state grants from the baseline for next year.
The presenter said the proposal also anticipates an increase to the county special-education tax (Act 18, roughly $267,000) and modest recreation-millage growth (~$196,000), while Medicaid outreach reimbursements and other itemized changes yield a net general-fund revenue increase of about $454,000. On the grant side, the district projects a reduction of roughly $2.94 million for 2026–27 compared with the current year.
On expenditures, the presenter said approved contract settlements added roughly $4.79 million to the general fund; some staffing costs will be charged to an enhancement millage, offsetting about $196,000 of the general fund impact. The presenter also cited a retirement-rate decrease and prior liability adjustments that together reduce retirement expense by about $871,000, and noted the district expects a 3% medical hard-cap increase on Jan. 1, 2027 (about $120,000).
The presenter described items not included in the proposed budget: unsettled labor agreements (custodial, food service and administrative support), which were discussed later and carry an estimated general-fund impact of about $842,000 (plus roughly $99,000 to special revenue); no assumed bus-driver wage increase; and no assumed savings from staff turnover. The presenter reiterated that some current-year one-time grants (for example, Section 31A funds of about $3.3 million) must be spent by Sept. 2027 and may require a future amendment.
"We're in the people business," the presenter said, emphasizing that 83–85% of district spending is on personnel costs.
After the hearing, the board moved through its regular agenda. On voice and roll-call votes the board approved an amendment to the 2025–26 general-fund appropriations resolution, amended the 2025–26 special-revenue appropriations, and adopted the 2026–27 general-fund and special-revenue appropriations as presented.
The board also approved procurement and personnel items, including: - Awarding a five-year, districtwide copier-refresh contract to Apply Innovation at a cost not to exceed $593,000 for equipment (plus an estimated $558,000 for consumables, maintenance and software licenses). - Approving device purchases from Apple Inc. (not to exceed $31,864) and Peopledriven Technology (not to exceed $188,335). - Ratifying wage-and-benefit agreements for the district’s administrative support group and for custodial and food-service groups (the presenter had noted the general-fund impact of the custodial/food-service settlement). - Adopting the salary schedule for the superintendent and assistant superintendent and authorizing the superintendent to issue contracts to listed new professional staff for the 2026–27 school year.
All motions were seconded and carried on roll-call votes recorded at the meeting.
Superintendent Mr. Kirby, in his report, thanked principals and HR staff for hiring work, said staffing is stabilizing ahead of the school year and noted continued uncertainty in the state budget timetable (the district expects state action around July 2–3). He also recognized district finance staff for receiving an ASBO International award for the 2025 fiscal year for financial reporting and transparency.
The board concluded with communications thanking staff (Julie and Tina were singled out) and adjourned the meeting with no public comment during the regular period.
What happens next: the board approved the appropriations and many of the contracts and settlements discussed; outstanding labor negotiations and final state budget actions may prompt subsequent amendments to the district's 2026–27 budget.
