Budget committee approves $28.25 million proposed budget and retains current tax rates

The Siuslaw School District 97J budget committee voted on May 13 to forward a proposed 2026–27 budget of $28,254,989 to the board of directors and to keep the district’s current permanent and local-option tax rates. Nora moved the motions and Ivy seconded; after discussion the committee approved the motions by voice vote. “The motion passes,” the chair stated after the vote.

Administrators framed the package as a balanced allocation with some built-in “wiggle room” to allow the business manager to move funds among functions without exceeding statutory limits. Cece, the business manager, explained reductions already exceed $2,000,000 and that the $28.25 million figure reflects the committee-level allocations and assumptions about revenue. Committee members debated restoring extra-duty stipends for 51 positions at varying stipend levels (examples discussed included a base $12.50 rate versus $5.00) and the fiscal impacts; administration said restoring many positions at $12.50 would change the net figures modestly and that specific positions could be removed for attrition.

The committee also discussed program-level tradeoffs including a possible reduction in the school nurse’s contract and a 0.2 FTE reduction in a high-school counselor. Staff and board members outlined services the RN provides and quantified the difference between a full 15-day cut versus smaller reductions (administration estimated roughly $7,000 difference for a seven-day change). The committee approved the budget to move forward; the board will consider adoption and any final adjustments at its meeting before final adoption in June.