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Santiam Canyon budget committee approves proposed 2026'27 budget, sets tax and bond levies
Summary
The Santiam Canyon budget committee approved the district's proposed 2026'27 budget and voted to impose the permanent tax rate and a debt-service levy; officials warned rising PERS costs and ORCA pass-through payments shape the district's finances.
The Santiam Canyon School District 129J budget committee voted to approve the district's proposed 2026'27 budget and carried the standard motions required to impose the district's permanent tax rate and a debt-service levy.
Nicole Cooper, the district's incoming business manager, presented the budget and said the district expects about $57,416,452 in state and local revenue for the general fund this fiscal year and a total budget figure listed in the motion on the floor. She told the committee: "We anticipate a significant increase in SSF pass through payments due to the continued enrollment growth at Oregon Charter Academy, ORCA." Cooper and the superintendent emphasized the district is maintaining reserves for facilities, PERS, unemployment and curriculum to manage future volatility.
Board members and budget committee members pressed staff on PERS (the Public Employees Retirement System) unfunded actuarial liability (UAL) and when the district's site account will be depleted. Staff said the current site account is expected to be exhausted in July 2027 and estimated monthly PERS payments could rise from roughly $75,000 today to about $130,000 per month if the district does not pursue another site-account mechanism or bond. Staff said they are exploring options, including issuing another PERS bond, and will provide modeling to the board.
At the committee meeting the motion to approve the proposed fiscal year 2026'27 budget was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The committee then moved and passed two additional required motions: to impose the permanent tax rate of 4.8880 per $1,000 of assessed value (estimated to generate $2,952,964) and to impose $1,185,316 for debt service on the district's general obligation bonds. Each motion was approved on a voice vote.
The committee chair said the measures will come back to the board for formal adoption at the public hearing and board meeting. The district reminded the public that the June 10 meeting will include the public hearing on the budget prior to the regular board meeting.
