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Belton board adopts conservative FY27 preliminary budget amid risk from Senate Bill 3 and governor vetoes
Summary
Board approved a preliminary FY27 budget that assumes conservative state funding and a projected fund balance near 24%; administrators warned a pending legal/legislative issue (Senate Bill 3) and possible governor line-item vetoes could cut up to $4 million in revenue for 2026–27.
Belton School District administration presented a conservative FY27 preliminary budget and the board voted to accept the recommendation while acknowledging significant uncertainty tied to state actions.
Administrator (speaker 7) walked trustees through key assumptions: beginning fund balance roughly $31 million, projected revenue near $75 million and a conservative basic formula (SAT) assumption. He emphasized personnel remains the largest outlay — roughly 70% of the budget — and that the district plans step increases and a $200 base bump in the salary schedule. "We are overspending what we are pulling in in revenue... to the tune of 6% already," he said, describing current-year deficits and the expectation of additional deficit spending in 2627 unless state funding changes.
Board members pressed for clarity on two looming items: (1) a governor’s potential line‑item veto on parts of the state budget (clarity expected after June 30) and (2) litigation and statutory adjustments under "Senate Bill 3" that could force counties to roll assessed valuation back to 2024 levels — a rollback that administration estimated could cost the district about $4 million for 2627. Administration identified two calendar milestones for clarity: June 30 for final revenue numbers and a July 29 hearing related to the legislation and any legal challenge.
Administrators also received approval for a FY26 budget amendment to reconcile encumbrances and to transfer up to $2,126,284 into the capital projects fund to support facilities work including turf, roofing, and other projects previously discussed.
The board approved the FY27 preliminary budget motion after discussion. Administrators said they will return with any necessary amendments after state actions or county assessor updates.
Next steps: administration will monitor state actions, refine revenue projections, and report back to the board; no final levy adjustments were made at the meeting.
