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Budget gap narrows as Oregon Trail SD 46 projects smaller deficit for current year
Summary
Director Tim Belanger told the March 31 budget workshop the district's previously projected $4.2 million deficit has been reduced to about $0.7 million after staffing and expenditure adjustments; board members discussed enrollment-driven SSF impacts and upcoming PERS risks.
At a March 31 budget workshop, Business Services Director Tim Belanger reported the district reduced a planned $4.2 million deficit to "near $0.7m" after opportunistic staffing reductions and other expenditure cuts.
Belanger framed the current-year finances in the context of statewide funding: the Student Success Fund (SSF) for 2025–27 was established at $11.36 billion and OTSD's revenue mix is roughly 60% SSF, 34% local property tax and 6% other. He said earlier planning assumed a 5.8% SSF per-pupil increase but the district’s realized SSF increase was closer to 3.5% because of declining enrollment. The reduced deficit reflects a combination of lower-than-expected revenues, offset by spending adjustments and one-time timing differences.
Board members and budget committee participants pressed staff on drivers of the enrollment decline and on contingency planning. Director Belanger flagged longer-term risks including an anticipated PERS rate increase expected July 1, 2027, and potential legislative changes affecting special education and unemployment costs. Superintendent Aaron Bayer explained which enrollment categories (for example special education or ELL counts) affect the district’s ADMw calculations and therefore SSF funding.
What happens next: staff will present updated assumptions at the regular board meeting and at the Budget Committee meetings scheduled for April 28 and potentially April 30 and May 5.
