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Gresham-Barlow budget panel reviews $10.2 million in proposed reductions affecting about 70 positions
Summary
Superintendent Tracy Klinger told the Budget Committee the 2026–27 proposal responds to a “perfect storm” of rising PERS costs, declining enrollment and State funding shortfalls; the plan includes roughly $10.2 million in reductions and about 70 position reductions.
The Gresham-Barlow School District Budget Committee reviewed a proposed 2026–27 budget that staff say includes roughly $10.2 million in reductions and impacts about 70 positions. Superintendent Dr. Tracy Klinger told the committee the district is “navigating a ‘perfect storm’ of systemic economic pressures that require intentionality, sustainability, and difficult decisions.”
Pete Bejarano, who presented the budget overview, told the committee the State School Fund remains the district’s largest revenue source at over 70% and that the Legislature funded $11.36 billion toward Current Service Level while districts required $12.1 billion. He warned that rising PERS expenses — described as growing “double the amount of inflation” in the presentation — and declining enrollment have already pushed the district into reserves and could drive the Ending Fund Balance below the board-policy target without sustained changes.
Bejarano outlined how the district is structuring its legal appropriation at the function level and reminded the committee that FTE figures are planning guidance rather than legal commitments. He said the proposal includes reductions spread across elementary, middle, high school and district-level budgets, and staff estimated roughly $2.5 million in reductions in each broad area, “with a reduction of about 70 positions.” The presentation also included a reduction-by-bargaining-group summary: licensed positions down about 9.8%, classified about 4.5% and administrative about 7.1%, while confidential staffing remained flat.
Committee members pressed staff on assumptions behind charter pass-through funding, insurance premium increases, and the district’s plan should reserves continue to decline. Bejarano emphasized the board-policy implications of the Ending Fund Balance, noting one day of school costs roughly $710,000 and that reserves affect bond ratings and borrowing costs. No final budget action was taken at the April 29 meeting; the committee signaled it may return with further information or consider a policy exception at the May meeting.
