Brookings-Harbor board declares $1.2M budget shortfall, approves cuts in resolution

The Brookings-Harbor School District Board unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-002 on May 21, formally recognizing an anticipated budget shortfall for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The resolution cites a State School Fund of $11.36 billion and states the district will receive access to 49% of its allocation, estimated at approximately $9.31 million. The resolution notes two temporary offsets: a projected $750,000 payment from delayed forest fee revenues (2017–2021) and an estimated $2.8 million carryover from 2024–25. It estimates an anticipated shortfall of $1.2 million in the first half of the biennium, potentially rising to $1.7 million in the second half. The resolution text states, “the school district will take the following steps to address the budget shortfall,” and then lists proposed actions including a reduction of approximately 11 licensed positions and 4.75 classified managerial positions achieved through attrition and reduction in force, and a planned taper of the ending fund balance from about 12% toward a 7.5% reserve target by 2026–27.

Board Chair Jay Trost read the full resolution aloud before the vote. Trish Walker moved to approve the resolution; Janece Payne seconded. The motion passed 5–0 (Katherine Johnson, Janece Payne, Alan Nidiffer, Trish Walker, Jay Trost voting Aye). The resolution “shall take effect immediately,” per the adopted language.

District leaders said the measures are intended to align the budget with enrollment-driven revenue and rising PERS obligations while using one-time revenues and carryover to soften near-term impacts. The board did not adopt specific layoff notices at the meeting; the resolution frames staffing changes as reductions achieved through attrition and reduction in force.