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Budget Planning for 2025-26 School Year
Details About
2025-26 Budget Planning
Eugene School District 4J is projected to spend more than $30 million in reserves to make ends meet this school year. The district has been a strong steward of public funds, building a reserve to cover costs in times like this, but is facing numerous challenges: a continuing decline in birth rates and enrollment, increased staffing and PERS retirement costs, and complete termination of federal COVID-relief funds. As a result, 4J must pare down its spending to better match resources provided by the state and stabilize services
Interim Superintendent Colt Gill will present up to $25 million in reductions to the school board and budget committee next month. These reductions are necessary to ensure that 4J continues to operate within its means while prioritizing student learning, equity, and safety in light of changing financial realities.
While the reductions are substantial, the district does not anticipate involuntary layoffs at this time. Staffing reductions will primarily happen through attrition – opting not to fill vacant positions, and taking advantage of planned retirements and resignations. More than half of the proposed reductions will come from non-staff expenses, such as supplies, materials, contracted services, and operational costs. However, staffing shifts will impact schools, departments and staff members. Some employees may need to transition to different schools, programs or roles.
"Every person in every position and every resource we invest in plays a vital role in serving our students. We know these reductions will have an impact, and we do not take them lightly,” Gill said. “As we navigate this challenge, our commitment remains to keep student learning, well-being and equity at the center of our decisions. While funding realities require us to adjust, we will continue working together to support every student, every day."
Over the past four years, 4J strategically expanded staffing by 37 percent, in part, through the use of temporary federal COVID relief funds – with the district stretching those dollars longer than many school districts in Oregon. These funds allowed 4J to reduce class sizes, provide additional mental health support for students, and enhance instructional coaching. With these funds now expired, the district must adjust spending to align with ongoing revenue.
Complicating the coming discussion is the uncertainty about the continuation of federal funds that are targeted to support some of 4J’s most vulnerable populations, including students with disabilities, houseless students and students from historically marginalized communities. The district receives millions of dollars annually in federal funds to support learning and provide school meals, after-school and summer learning opportunities, early learning, and more. The district is taking action to secure the federal funding by joining in a lawsuit with the American Federation of Teachers and other partners to challenge the legality of recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. 4J has retained Democracy Forward to represent it on a pro bono basis.
Public input remains a vital part of the budget process. Meetings of the budget committee and school board will include opportunities for public comment.
“Every program and effort in 4J holds value; we’d prefer to hold on to all we have,” Gill said. “We understand that these are challenging times, and we are committed to navigating this process with transparency, care, and a steadfast focus on supporting our students and staff.”