Tacoma School Board adopts roughly $624.6 million 2026–27 budget, approves contracts and policy updates

The Tacoma School District Board of Directors on a unanimous vote adopted the district's 2026–27 budget and approved a package of contracts and policy actions at its regular business meeting.

A district presenter identified as Ross summarized the general fund figures that the board later adopted: $624.592 million in projected revenue and $614.741 million in budgeted expenditures, yielding a projected fund-balance increase of about $9.8 million if revenue and expenditures align with those estimates. Ross said roughly 72% of revenues are state-driven, enrichment (local) resources rose to about 16% because of voter-approved resources, and federal resources compose roughly 8% of the budget. He said salary and benefit costs historically approach 85% of expenditures and that some discretionary items are being held pending revenue realization.

"If we're able to keep our expenditures within that $614.7 million range and we're able to receive revenue of around the $624 million, then we should be on point to grow our fund balance by that," Ross said.

Board members pressed for context on the projected fund-balance percentage. Ross responded that the gain would move the district to a little less than 2% and affirmed a multi-year target of about 1% annual growth.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2183 (adopt 2026–27 budget): adopted, roll-call vote recorded as President Stroger 'I'; Director Bombre 'I'; Director Keing 'I'; Director Freeman Lane 'I'.
- Policy 3115 (students experiencing homelessness) second reading/adoption: adopted, roll-call unanimous.
- Resolution 2184 (remove 3101 S. 43rd St. from surplus): adopted, roll-call unanimous.
- Multiple contracts and amendments (selected highlights below): approved by voice vote.

Key contract and amendment approvals

- Row Health (TSD24078) amendment #2: approved for services supporting students with medically required nursing services; amount shown in the record is $825,000 for the 2025–26 school year (funding source: student services).
- AVID Center (TSD26111): multi-year contract approved (amount shown in packet: 208,955,000 as presented; see notes on transcript formatting below).
- Jenny Reed Elementary modernization (GMP amendment #3, TSD24024): approved for $2,868,372 excluding sales tax (Feb. 27, 2024'Dec. 31, 2026).
- Central administration building improvements (GMP amendment #1, TSD260007): approved; transcript shows the amount with formatting irregularities in the record (see audit below).

Policy action

The board adopted revised Policy 3115 on students experiencing homelessness in a second reading. A staff presenter said changes clean and modernize language about students experiencing homelessness and add guidance encouraging teachable moments to reduce stigma.

Medicaid interlocal and implementation questions

The board approved interlocal TSD-26-112 with the Washington State Health Care Authority to participate in Medicaid administrative claiming. At least one director asked how pending changes to Medicaid and related federal programs might affect the district's participation. District and HCA representatives said federal and state program rules are shifting and that more detail will be provided as guidance becomes clear; the agreement enables the district to begin building the administrative structure to participate in indirect claiming.

What happens next

Board materials indicate the budget and the listed contracts and resolutions are now adopted and the district will proceed with implementation. Several directors emphasized the workload behind graduation season and thanked staff. The board announced upcoming meetings (July 9 business meeting; Aug. 13 retreat; Aug. 27 business meeting; Sept. 10 business meeting).