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Budgetary Process 2026-27

Budgetary Process 2026-27

Like many school districts across the state of Washington, the Vashon Island School District has faced budgetary challenges and pinch points due to the combination of two major factors:

  1. a slow, but steady, decline in enrollment; and
  2. the state of Washington’s failure to fully fund basic K-12 education through their prototypical funding model.

As the district works on creating its budget for the 2026-27 school year, this webpage will be updated to help provide as much transparency and factual information to the Vashon community as possible.

Budget Realignment

In the 2018-2019, Vashon Island School District’s total enrollment as reported by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) was 1,596. In keeping with trends across the state and nation, VISD’s enrollment number has slowly declined through the years. For the 2026-27 school year, VISD is budgeting for an annual averageof full-time equivalent (AAFTE) of 1313 students.

As the number of students in the district decline, the district also must make sure that it is utilizing its staff to serve those students as efficiently as possible. Considering that staff salaries and benefits account for roughly 79 percent of VISD’s budget, on any given year that the district may be facing a budgetary shortfall, it is virtually impossible to balance the budget without aligning staffing to projected enrollment and the revenue it generates.

A pie chart compares staffing costs to MSOC costs, showing percentages and dollar amounts.

Many Districts in the State Face Similar Issues

VISD is one of many school districts in the state that is facing budgetary challenges year after year due to the state’s failure to fulfill its duty to fund public education fully.

This webpage does an excellent job of easily unpacking the public school funding issue in the state of Washington.

 

Budget Updates

Below you can find documents and updates presented to the VISD Board of Directors.

Budget FAQ

  • Until the state of Washington fully funds its public education, most districts across the state, Vashon included, will continue to have budgetary concerns as demographic trends point to continued drops in enrollment. Although the state legislature theoretically addressed the issue with the McCleary decision, the legislature has actually put in less money into education now than it has in years before.

    For example, in the 2019-2021 state budget, the percentage dedicated to K-12 education accounted for 51.6 percent of the budget. In the 2025-27 state budget, that percentage had dropped to 43.23 percent, despite continuing risinng costs across the board.

  • VISD administraton are conservatively estimating an enrollment decline of ## students for the 2026-27 school year. VISD receives approximately XX per student to pay for all daily school operations. A loss of ## students equals an anticipated revenue decline by $XX.

    By state law, school districts in the state of Washington are required to have final budgets in place by August 31—before the school year begins on most years and an accurate student count is available. Because of this, most districts underestimate the enrollment rather than overestimate. If enrollment comes in higher than projected, the district will use any additional revenue throughout the school year. If enrollment comes in below projected, the district is tied to pay for staff and services above what is required by the student population.

     

  • Just as everyone’s household expenses increase, so too do the district’s. In addition to rising salaries for staff, the district also has to pay an increase in materials, supplies, and operating costs. Examples given: insurance rates are expected to rise nearly 20 percent and electricity bills have risen roughly 12 percent in the past year.

  • If we are unable to submit a balanced budget to the state, OSPI will place us in Binding Conditions. Under Binding Conditions, Puget Sound Educational Service District will appoint an administrator to act as a financial consultant for the District whose singular focus will be on cutting costs.

  • Because staffing salaries comprise the largest portion of the budget, approximately 79 percent, the only way to achieve a balanced budget is to align the number of staff employed by the district with the number of students enrolled. By presenting a balanced budget for the 2026-27 school year, this ensures the fund balance (similar to a savings account) stays at the minimum level required by VISD board policy.

  • Yes. At the March 26, 2026 Regular Board Meeting, the Board of Directors voted to approve the organizational chart for the 2026-27 school year, which reduces the overall administrative staff by 1.6 FTE.