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Coquille SD 8 presents balanced budget amid declining enrollment and tight state forecast
Summary
District staff presented a draft general fund budget that assumes enrollment of about 1,200 students next year, highlights a projected state school fund receipt of roughly $14.3 million, and retains a $1 million contingency while payroll remains about three‑quarters of general fund spending.
Denise (business manager) told the budget committee the district is presenting a balanced general fund budget that assumes an enrollment projection of about 1,200 students for the 2025–26 school year. She said, “A budget is a district financial program, for the upcoming fiscal year,” and walked the committee through revenue and expenditure line items.
The draft shows estimated local property tax revenue of $2,845,252 and an estimated state school fund of $14,300,000. Other general fund receipts Denise listed include common school fund payments of $174,427, admissions and gate receipts of $28,000, and a beginning general‑fund balance; she said total payroll costs (salaries plus benefits) are about $14,432,265 with salaries projected at $8,406,734 and benefits at $6,025,531. The committee was told the board requested a $1,000,000 contingency in the coming year.
Superintendent framed the budget in the context of a multi‑year enrollment decline — from 1,388 students in 2021 to 1,226 this year — and said the district set next year’s budget assuming roughly 1,200 students. He noted the state’s May revenue forecast reduced the legislature’s revenue projection (the superintendent cited a statewide drop of about $798 million in a recent forecast) and said that increases uncertainty for the June estimate. The district plans to monitor the state’s June number and adjust as necessary after board adoption.
The presentation also described where the district will use non‑general funds and grants (special revenue funds, capital funds, debt service) and flagged that roughly 74% of the general fund is payroll‑related, making personnel decisions the largest budgetary lever.
What’s next: Board members were invited to submit written questions to Denise; the district will continue to refine assumptions pending the state June estimate and to engage the board before final adoption.
