Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Big Spring presents first look at 2026–27 budget, projects about $1M shortfall without a tax increase
Summary
At a March 23 finance committee meeting, the district presented a preliminary 2026–27 budget with $65.9 million in proposed revenues and a roughly $1 million projected deficit if the board does not increase millage; officials outlined revenue assumptions, expense drivers and a timeline for board action.
Mrs. Lent, the district’s finance presenter, gave the board a first‑pass view of the 2026–27 budget, saying the proposal shows total revenues of $65.9 million and that the draft does not include any millage increase. “for total revenues at 65.9 million,” she said, explaining the proposal breaks revenues into local, state and federal buckets and uses assessed‑value growth rather than a tax increase to limit pressure on homeowners.
Mrs. Lent walked the committee through the major revenue assumptions — current real estate tax projected at about $30.6 million, state revenues budgeted at roughly $25 million (including 100% of the governor’s proposed basic and special education funding), and federal grants under $1 million — and cautioned that some items (state allotments and certain federal assignments) are not finalized until after the district must set its budget. She also detailed expense drivers: contractual salary increases, benefits, higher utilities and a set of technology purchases (elementary Chromebooks and desktop replacements) that together push personnel and non‑personnel costs higher.
The presentation included an illustrative budget timeline: the finance committee will reconvene April 20 and May 18, the board is asked to approve a proposed final budget on May 4, and the district would adopt a final budget and set tax rates on June 8. Mrs. Lent emphasized the figures remain preliminary and will be updated as state and local data arrive.
