District projects $1.3 million use of fund balance for 2026–27 budget; reserves remain above $10M

At the April 6 board meeting, Mr. Bartlett delivered a budget update held as a placeholder because the state has not enacted a final budget. He said the district is optimistic about a 2% foundation-aid increase that would amount to about $130,000 in additional revenue but cautioned the outcome is not finalized. "We're really hopeful that... the 2% to foundation aid will come through in the final budget, which... would be about a $130,000 in additional revenue to the district," Bartlett said.

Bartlett walked the board through the district's fund-balance and reserve plan. He said the district is proposing to use about $1,300,000 of fund balance to help balance the 2026–27 gap — roughly a $550,000 reduction in reliance on savings year over year — and that the district began the year with about $10.9 million in reserve accounts and expects to remain above $10 million at year-end. "For 26–27... we're proposing about a 1,300,000 usage of fund balance to help balance that gap," Bartlett said. He also showed a comparison of the current-year adopted budget and the proposed numbers, noting planned reductions that lower the estimated dollar draw from savings.

Bartlett outlined next steps and key dates: a finance-committee meeting the following Wednesday to finalize the three-part budget, a formal presentation on April 20, a budget hearing on May 11 and budget vote on May 19. Board members thanked staff for framing the assumptions and emphasized the continuing uncertainty while state budget negotiations are unresolved.