Jefferson School Board adopts 2026–27 budget with modest deficit and enrollment uncertainty

The Jefferson School District Board of Education on Monday adopted the district’s original budget for the 2026–27 school year after holding a public budget hearing. The board approved the measure by voice vote following a presentation by Brian Mann, the district’s director of services.

Mann told the board the district’s revenue‑limit authority is estimated just under $24 million and that preliminary calculations show about a $547,000 deficit in the original budget. “This original budget reflects about $547,000 deficit,” Mann said during the presentation. He also flagged a projected decline in student membership, saying the district is projecting a September headcount of about 1,465 students, which drives revenue estimates.

Mann outlined other budget drivers including a roughly $143,000 projected increase in private‑school choice and special‑needs scholarship payments, a planned special‑education transfer of about $2.4 million, and a modest increase in local levy collections tied to equalized‑valuation growth. He told the board preliminary Department of Revenue valuations show roughly 13% growth in equalized value for the district, which would tend to lower the mill rate even if levy dollars rise.

Board members asked for clarifications about how the 1,465 estimate was calculated and whether late registrations would change revenue figures; Mann said final counts will be set by the state’s 3rd‑Friday September snapshot and other October certifications. The board’s formal motion to adopt the budget passed by voice vote after the hearing; the record shows a motion, a second and the chair calling the ayes and nays.