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Board approves preliminary 2026–27 budget that projects $821,586 deficit; members press for special-education detail
Summary
Trustees unanimously approved a very preliminary 2026–27 budget that projects an $821,586 operational deficit; administrators cited enrollment assumptions, a 3.75% salary increase, and special education high-cost cases as primary drivers and said staff will pursue high-cost reimbursement claims.
The Brown Deer School District Board approved a preliminary 2026–27 budget at its June 23 meeting that projects a general-fund deficit of $821,586.
Business office staff presented the preliminary numbers: revenue was projected at $28,703,817 and expenses at $29,525,403, reflecting a 3.75% salary increase negotiated with staff and a 3% reduction in health-insurance premiums. The administration projected headcount of about 16,613 seats in the fall and anticipated $1.68 million in net open-enrollment revenue.
On special education, the business office flagged high-cost services for individual students as a major pressure point. "We have 1 student that came back to the district that has had over $100,000 of services and needs that they need," the business office representative said, and noted the district is pursuing high-cost special-education reimbursement claims to recover some of those expenses.
Board members pressed for clearer detail on the number of special-education students, the calculation behind projected reimbursements, and where ESSER-funded positions that the district is continuing will sit in the 2026–27 fund structure. Administration said fund-balance reserves could absorb some one-year impacts and that the district is exploring grant and legislative support to offset pressures.
The board moved and approved the preliminary budget, 6–0, while directing administration to provide more granular special-education cost and reimbursement detail for future meetings. The administration noted that final revenue will depend on September enrollment and that the budget is subject to revision before final adoption.
What happens next: administration will refine special-education cost tracking and reimbursement filings and return to the board with updated estimates as enrollment finalizes in September.
