Sto-Rox SD posts proposed 2026–27 budget with 30-day review; board set to vote June 24

Sto-Rox School District officials on May 27 reviewed a proposed final general fund budget for fiscal year 2026–27 that the board approved for public posting on May 21 and placed on a 30-day review beginning May 22; the board is scheduled to consider formal adoption on June 24.

Scott Reed, the district business officer, said the posted plan is balanced and “it went out for its 30-day public review,” and he encouraged community feedback through the form on the district website. The budget relies on three consecutive positive fund-balance years to meet the district’s financial-recovery exit criteria and projects a surplus for the current year barring unforeseen issues.

The administration recommended a 0.5-mill increase (a 1.57% change under the presented scenarios). Reed said the district estimated the annual impact on a house assessed at $150,000 would be $74.99, about $6 a month. Hines noted that the district previously agreed not to increase local real-estate tax above the Act 1 index; the board weighed three scenarios (0.5 mil, 1.0 mil and the Act 1 cap) during deliberations.

District leaders flagged capital needs at the junior–senior high school that they estimate will total roughly $8 million. Reed and Chief Recovery Officer Nancy Hines discussed possibly transferring unrestricted fund balance into a capital-restricted account to help cover those projects while continuing to target an unrestricted fund-balance range (the presentation cited a planning target between 5% and 8% of the general fund).

Transportation was a particular cost driver addressed during the presentation. "We can have students K to six ride the bus together," said Mr. Co., the district representative who described route consolidation and a reduction in underutilized high-school buses to reduce the number of routes and buses while preserving service where needed. Officials said the district expects transportation savings from fewer routes and more consolidated stops.

Reed outlined revenue assumptions (roughly 71% state, 25% local in the presentation) and said major expenditure categories—charter tuition, salaries and benefits—account for about 75% of the budget. He also highlighted debt-service obligations, including a 2017 general obligation bond and an annual payment tied to a PTE loan.

Superintendent Sonia Coleman and staff encouraged public participation in the 30-day review before the board’s June 24 adoption vote. The district posted hard copies at its buildings and a digital copy on the website and invited written feedback via an online form.