Gull Lake Board adopts 2026–27 budget after preliminary hearing that showed a projected shortfall

The Gull Lake Community Schools Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the 2026–27 General Appropriations Resolution following a public Budget Hearing held at 7:00 p.m. on June 15, 2026.

Deputy Superintendent Lisa Anderson presented the district—s preliminary assumptions, including a 3.5% increase in local taxes and a $250 increase to the Foundation Allowance. On the expenditure side she listed a 27.51% retirement rate, a 3.3% health insurance hard-cap increase, a 20% rise in natural gas costs and a 15% increase in electric — under which the district—s projection showed an estimated deficit of ($303,905). Treasurer Laura Zervic moved to approve the General Appropriations Resolution for 2026-2027 on behalf of the Finance Committee; the motion passed unanimously (AYES: McCann, Keene, Mendez, Zervic, Scott-Rhodes, LaDuke, Paulose-Murphy).

The adoption follows the statutory hearing process: the preliminary numbers were presented in the Budget Hearing, the hearing record shows no public comments on the budget, and the Board took formal action later in the meeting. The district did not present an alternate deficit-mitigation plan in the minutes of this meeting; further budget adjustments or detailed line-item changes were not specified in the public record.

Board members and administrators said the Finance Committee and staff collaborated on the projections. The Board—s unanimous vote finalizes the district—s spending plan for the 2026-27 school year under the assumptions presented at the hearing.