Renton School District recommends $15 million in cuts as enrollment falls and state funding lags

Renton School District staff outlined the district’s fiscal outlook for the 2025–26 school year and recommended roughly $15 million in expenditure reductions — about 5% of the general fund — to address ongoing gaps in state funding and declining student enrollment.

The presenter said most general fund revenue comes from the state and federal governments and local voter-approved levies, and that roughly 85% of the general fund pays for staff salaries, benefits and mandatory taxes. "Renton School District is funded for only 2.2 school psychologists across our entire district," the presenter said, citing an example of how the state's prototypical school model yields staffing levels the district regards as insufficient.

Why it matters: the presenter quantified district shortfalls since 2020, saying special education has been underfunded by $51.5 million over five years, student transportation by more than $20 million, and non-employee costs by more than $24 million — "more than $104 million" in aggregate. The presenter said the current general fund anticipates just over $301 million in resources while planned expenditures are nearly $310 million, leaving a structural gap the district must close.

Board direction and timeline: at a public study session and board meeting on January 8, 2025, staff presented scenarios and sought guidance. "The recommendation is to reduce the budget expenditures for the 25-26 school year by $15 million, or about 5% of the district budget, and to maintain about a 4% ending fund balance," the presenter said. Staff, under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Damen Pattenaude, will work to develop the $15 million in reductions and present a final 2025–26 budget to the Renton School Board in June.

Details and constraints: the presenter emphasized that nearly half of district revenue is restricted to specific programs and cannot be moved to cover general fund needs; other funds such as capital projects or student activity accounts cannot legally be used to plug general fund gaps. The presenter also noted that state guidance suggests a 3% minimum ending fund balance, while the board’s policy target is 7%; the district closed the last fiscal year with an ending fund balance just over 4% and has authorized staff to plan for a lower-than-target balance while reductions are developed.

What’s next: staff will finalize reduction scenarios and return to the board with a proposed final budget in June. The presenter closed by directing listeners to the district website for updates and supporting materials.