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Budget presentation: district projects small COLA-driven increase but flags one-time funds and grants ending
Summary
Finance staff outlined a draft 2026–27 budget assuming a 4.31% COLA, funded ADA estimate of 1,463.28, stable STRS/PERS rates and expiration of several one-time grants; staff recommended caution about relying on one-time state discretionary funds.
The district’s finance director (S12) presented the 2026–27 budget assumptions and projected outlook, emphasizing uncertainty tied to one-time state funds and expiring grants.
S12 summarized the May revision assumptions: a total COLA of 4.31% (including a 1.44% discretionary addition), a funded ADA estimated at 1,463.28, STRS rate at 19.1% and PERS at 26.4%. She highlighted newly proposed one-time student-support and professional-development block grants and warned that many discretionary grants that districts have relied on are categorized as one-time and may be replaced or expire. "So our total COLA... is gonna be 4.31%... and they're proposing over $1,300 per pupil," S12 said.
S12 also outlined local impacts: expected increases in benefits costs (about $855,000 attributed to health and welfare changes) and the effect of grant expirations (e.g., MHAT grant ending in September). She said the district’s reserves are growing slightly but cautioned that some expenses (notably negotiated health benefits and potential workers’ compensation rate increases) are not yet fully reflected in the out-year assumptions. The budget will return for approval at the next meeting; administrators asked the board to adopt the presentation to proceed with planning.
