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Stanwood-Camano board reviews draft 2026–27 budget; ending fund balance projected above minimum
Summary
CFO Ruth Floyd presented the draft 2026–27 budget with a funding FTE projection of 4,684 (112 below this year), a revenue mix dominated by state funding, and an estimated ending fund balance above the board minimum; the board set the budget schedule and will hold the public hearing in August.
Ruth Floyd, the district finance lead, presented the Stanwood-Camano School District’s draft 2026–27 budget and towned the board through revenue, expenditure and reserve assumptions. Floyd said the district projects 4,684 annual average FTE for funding purposes—112 FTE fewer than this year—and that most revenue will continue to come from the state.
"Our ending fund balance is above the board minimum by 17.2% estimated," Floyd said, summarizing the district’s plan to maintain a cushion while using one-time and restricted funds for capital needs. She noted local taxes are estimated at roughly 17% of revenues, state general purpose funding about 54%, and state special-purpose revenues about 20%.
The presentation included a breakdown of expenditures by program and object. Floyd told the board that classified salaries are rising more than certificated salaries, in part because special-education enrollment has grown, and that purchase-services costs (including special-education out-of-district placements and a larger risk-pool charge) have driven a notable increase in that category.
Floyd said the draft F-195 summary pages will be posted to the district website by July 10 and that the official budget will be presented in August, followed by the public hearing and adoption. She described the budget as a plan that will be adjusted once actual enrollment and other variables are known later in the year.
Board members asked about the risk-pool cycle (Floyd said the statewide pool sets rates annually based on overall claims and an experience modifier), the reclassification of some foundation donations into the "other" revenue category, and recent changes to the vehicle-depreciation schedule that affect the transportation vehicle fund. Floyd also noted an OSPI correction to the district’s transportation allocation increased May receipts.
At the meeting the board also heard the May financial report covering the current fiscal year through May: the district reported an annual average FTE of 4,629 (excluding Running Start and transitional kindergarten), a May general fund balance of about $8.4 million (approximately 8.9% of budgeted revenues), and managers’ reported unencumbered capacity of about 7.2% after salary and benefit encumbrances.
Procedural votes taken at the meeting included unanimous approvals of the meeting agenda, the June 16 minutes, and the consent agenda (items 1–22). No formal budget adoption occurred; the board retained the planned public-review and adoption timeline for August.
