Park Hill board hears FY27 budget preview and warns of state funding uncertainty
June 11, 2026 | Park Hill, School Districts, Missouri
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Park Hill School District officials presented a first-reading preview of the fiscal year 2027 budget to the school board on June 11, outlining enrollment projections, capital spending plans tied to bond funds and continuing uncertainty about state-level revenue changes.
Dr. Kelly, who led the budget overview, told the board the district is planning around a projected enrollment of 11,384 students for next year and has an operating figure included in the packet that happened to match current-year numbers at $231.7 million. He said the FY27 packet anticipates capital spending that could total about $353 million if all projects proceed, largely driven by Park Hill High School Phase 1 construction and related bond-funded work.
The district reported it sold approximately $128 million in bonds earlier this cycle and will spend down bond proceeds across capital projects in coming years. If planned revenues and expenditures align, the district could end FY27 with an operating reserve near 19.5 percent of expenditures, within the board's target range.
But presenters stressed caution. Dr. Kimbro and Dr. Kelly repeatedly described revenue-side uncertainty, citing potential revisions to the state's foundation funding formula and a proposed statewide tax overhaul on the August ballot referenced in the discussion as "Amendment Five." "It's hard to know how it's going to impact anything," one presenter said, noting that different implementation approaches could shift funding from income tax to sales tax and materially change state aid to districts.
The budget preview also addressed delayed technology procurement: laptop replacements deferred because of supply-chain issues are expected to return in FY28 at a higher cost, and the packet includes planning to set aside reserves for that replacement. Dr. Kelly said the district will present updated FY26 final figures and will ask the board to amend FY26 values and then to approve FY27 at the June 25 meeting.
Other highlights in the meeting included notice that nutrition services prime-vendor renewals and commodity contracts together represent approximately $3 million in food costs and will appear on the next consent agenda, and discussion of staffing and salaries tied to enrollment trends.
What happens next: staff will bring final FY26 numbers back for amendment and present the FY27 budget for approval at the June 25 board meeting. Officials said they will continue to monitor state-level developments that could change revenue assumptions.
Dr. Kelly, who led the budget overview, told the board the district is planning around a projected enrollment of 11,384 students for next year and has an operating figure included in the packet that happened to match current-year numbers at $231.7 million. He said the FY27 packet anticipates capital spending that could total about $353 million if all projects proceed, largely driven by Park Hill High School Phase 1 construction and related bond-funded work.
The district reported it sold approximately $128 million in bonds earlier this cycle and will spend down bond proceeds across capital projects in coming years. If planned revenues and expenditures align, the district could end FY27 with an operating reserve near 19.5 percent of expenditures, within the board's target range.
But presenters stressed caution. Dr. Kimbro and Dr. Kelly repeatedly described revenue-side uncertainty, citing potential revisions to the state's foundation funding formula and a proposed statewide tax overhaul on the August ballot referenced in the discussion as "Amendment Five." "It's hard to know how it's going to impact anything," one presenter said, noting that different implementation approaches could shift funding from income tax to sales tax and materially change state aid to districts.
The budget preview also addressed delayed technology procurement: laptop replacements deferred because of supply-chain issues are expected to return in FY28 at a higher cost, and the packet includes planning to set aside reserves for that replacement. Dr. Kelly said the district will present updated FY26 final figures and will ask the board to amend FY26 values and then to approve FY27 at the June 25 meeting.
Other highlights in the meeting included notice that nutrition services prime-vendor renewals and commodity contracts together represent approximately $3 million in food costs and will appear on the next consent agenda, and discussion of staffing and salaries tied to enrollment trends.
What happens next: staff will bring final FY26 numbers back for amendment and present the FY27 budget for approval at the June 25 board meeting. Officials said they will continue to monitor state-level developments that could change revenue assumptions.
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