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Coquille SD 8 presents balanced 2025–26 budget amid steady enrollment decline
Summary
The district presented a balanced 2025–26 general-fund budget that relies on state and local estimates and a $1 million contingency after reporting multi-year enrollment declines; business manager Denise Hale outlined key revenue and payroll figures and said staffing remains the largest budget driver.
Denise Hale, the district business manager, presented the Coquille SD 8 proposed 2025–26 budget and told the budget committee that the document is a “district financial program for the upcoming fiscal year,” describing revenue and expenditure lines the committee must review.
Hale said the district estimates local property tax revenue at $2,845,252 and is budgeting $14,300,000 from the state school fund for the general fund. She listed other projected receipts including $174,427 from the common school fund and smaller locally generated revenues such as athletics admissions and childcare fees.
On expenditures, Hale said payroll represents roughly three-quarters of the general fund. “The total of those two is $14,432,265,” she said, referring to the combined salary and benefits estimate. She recommended a $1,000,000 contingency and noted transfers and capital outlay lines, including $623,000 for transfers and $38,364 for capital outlay.
Superintendent (speaker 1) framed the budget in the context of declining student counts: district enrollment has fallen from 1,388 in 2021 to 1,226 this year, and the proposed budget is based on a 1,200-student projection for next year. That decline, he said, is “our major challenge as a district,” because funding formulas and per‑pupil calculations drive state revenues.
Hale and board members discussed line-item scope: “supplies” covers classroom consumables and nonconsumables, custodial supplies, computer hardware and software, maintenance and athletic equipment, and not only paper and pens. Purchase services include contracted positions such as the Coos County school resource deputy, utilities, legal services and other vendor contracts.
Hale also explained timing risk tied to the state revenue forecast. The district presents a balanced budget now while awaiting the state’s June revenue estimate; she said the June estimate has historically arrived close to the end of the legislative session and could change the district’s final numbers.
What happens next: the budget committee will accept questions by email to Denise Hale and continue consideration at upcoming meetings; the board will later act to adopt the budget, at which point any material increases in fund expenditures over 10% would require a supplemental budget process.
