Stevenson-Carson board warned of $910,000 shortfall as enrollment drops

Kathy McKee, the district’s finance presenter, told the Stevenson-Carson School District Board on Feb. 27 that budgeted enrollment is expected to fall by 91 students in 2025–26. "At $10,000 each, that is an estimated drop of $910,000 in revenue," McKee said, framing the district’s looming gap.

Superintendent Ingrid Colvard said the district "is in desperate need of SRS funding," and noted SRS had not been reauthorized for 2024–25. McKee told the board the district must prepare a 2025–26 budget without SRS and estimated an additional roughly $800,000 in expense reductions would be required. Rising maintenance, supplies and operations costs and negotiated salary increases mean expenditure pressure will outpace projected state funding.

Board members pressed staff on drivers of the decline. Colvard cited high local real estate prices, lower birth rates, and an in-migration of retirees as reasons fewer families with school-aged children are moving into the district. Audience member Vickie Stolle asked whether the district would investigate enrollment causes; Colvard said the district would. Vice Chair Mitch Engel asked for a multi-year enrollment comparison, and the board asked Kathy McKee to present a Budget 101 refresher at the March meeting to clarify options and constraints.

The board did not adopt a final 2025–26 budget at the meeting. Board members discussed the district’s policy to present a budget with a 10 percent fund balance but noted the board is not required to adopt that level. Staff indicated potential staffing reductions would be considered to align expenses with the projected revenue shortfall.