The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees approved several measures in a meeting on Tuesday to address a $6.5 million budget shortfall.
Among the measures approved, Trustees voted to do the following:
- Streamline the district's workforce by consolidating positions and eliminating most positions that are currently vacant.
- Reduce travel and training budgets for Central Office staff, and utility budgets district-wide.
- Restructure departments, including finance, IT, and communications, as well as reallocating duties to increase efficiency without directly impacting students.
Trustees voted to delay consideration of an additional recommendation to eliminate four School Police Officer positions as they wait for further information about state funding.
The moves made by Trustees at Tuesday's meeting have reduced the School District's budget shortfall to $4.1 million, according to a release from the district.
Additional cost-cutting measures will be sought and considered by the School District, with an eye to maintaining critical classroom services, including class sizes, instruction, transportation, meals, and student supports.
The district must send an amended final budget to the state by July 2.
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees is set to discuss next year's $6.5 million budget deficit at a public meeting Tuesday.
The 2 p.m. meeting will be held at the WCSD Administration Building at 425 E. Ninth Street in Reno.
Last month we reported that in February WCSD staff projected a $9.7 million general fund budget deficit for the fiscal year of 2026 based on known expenditure changes and revenues from the governor's amended recommended budget.
Washoe county school district in their regular meeting discussed their current and future budget and what it might look like.
Now, board members are expected to give an updated presentation that will include staff’s analysis of the Nevada Economic Forum and also new costs related to maintenance of fields formerly maintained by the City of Sparks.
Nevada statutes state that final budgets of school districts must be adopted on or before June 8 of each year, this year being right after the last legislative session, which falls on June, 2, 2025.
If you can't attend the 2 p.m. meeting, you can watch it online by clicking on this link.
