What is an operating budget?

Used to account for all financial transactions relating to the District’s current operations, including:

• Staffing & employee benefits
• Technology
• Transportation
• Building & grounds
• Instructional materials
• Special education services

How did we get to a budget shortfall?

The district is facing a budget shortfall due to the following reasons:

• Enrollment: Steady to slightly declining
• State Budget: Has not kept up with inflation, which was significantly higher than trends - Two years of no increases
• Staffing: Over 70% of our budget - Increasing health insurance costs - Stronger competition for staff
• One-time Revenue - ESSER:  Expires at end of current year
• Failed an operational referendum
• Delayed investments in technology, buildings and grounds, instruction - Those costs have caught up with us

Reductions to Date

This will be the District’s third year in a row of budget reductions. Over the past two years, we have reduced our budget by nearly $3 million through a combination of, but not limited to, the following actions:

• Reduced 8 teaching positions
• Restructured/reduced our health insurance employee benefit
• Consolidated educational programming
• Delayed investments in our student technology devices*
• Delayed investment in our student textbooks*
• Delayed investment in capital maintenance of our buildings*

*These delays are still district needs and will have to be addressed in future budget cycles.