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Declining enrollment, rising special-education needs tighten district finances
Summary
Director of finance Janie Hare said the traditional district projects a 2,301 FTE decline and rising ESE costs, while the salary referendum revenue (about $67.7 million projected) remains critical; staff warned a failed renewal could average a 12% reduction for eligible employees.
Director of finance Janie Hare presented enrollment and benefit details that underline the operating-pressure picture. She said the traditional district is projecting a decline of about 2,301 full-time-equivalent students for the coming year and expects two new charter schools to offset some enrollment locally.
Hare said the district expects an increase in funding tied to FES programs but that much of that revenue is treated as a pass-through. She also flagged a net decrease of roughly $2.9 million in FRS retirement expense across funds due to rate and allocation changes.
On special education, board members and staff agreed the district is seeing continued growth in the ESE population and that the revenue associated with higher-weighted FTEs does not fully cover the cost of services. "We have an ESE population that is growing, and we don't see it slowing down," a board speaker said, and staff noted recruitment and retention for those positions has been challenging.
Hare reiterated the importance of the salary referendum that voters approved in August 2022; staff projected referendum revenue of about $67,700,000 for the coming year and said if voters do not approve renewal in November 2026 the program-eligible employees could see an average pay reduction on the order of 12%.
