Proposed 2025–26 budget: revenue, reserves and projected cost pressures

Superintendent Helena Chirinian and Director of Finance Dede Corpening presented the district’s fiscal assumptions and drivers for the 2025–26 proposed budget. The presentation listed a total proposed budget of $33,052,494.66 and General Fund revenue of $21.68 million; the projected ending fund balance is $1.8 million, reduced from $2.8 million to move toward the board’s 7.5% reserve policy.

Staff framed several assumptions: the State School Fund calculation used the proposed $11.36 billion K–12 allocation, with the presentation stating that BHSD would receive "49% in the first year of the biennium" (phrase as presented); funding remains based on 2024–25 ADMw because of declining enrollment. Projected cost increases shown in the materials include utilities up about 7.5%, insurance up about 18% (the presentation attributed most of the insurance increase to property premiums driven by statewide wildfire risk), and a 3% across-the-board staffing cost increase tied to collective bargaining agreements.

Corpening and Chirinian also noted modest reductions in some federal grant revenue, flat state grants, and an active application for the new Early Literacy Grant. Committee members praised the clarity of the presentation and said staff would continue monitoring enrollment and funding forecasts before making staffing adjustments.