2023-24 School District Budget Outlook
Shoreline School District is engaged in proactive budget planning work in light of declining revenues and decreased enrollment in recent years.
Since a high point in 2019-20, the district student enrollment has decreased by more than 400 students due to COVID and other factors. Declining enrollment is generally anticipated in our near future, due to declining birth rates in King County and limited housing affordability. School districts both nearby and across the country have seen similar enrollment declines.
Along with a decline in enrollment, the District has experienced declining regionalization revenue from the State at a time when costs have increased. Ultimately, like our families, with declining resources we must rebalance our budget to live within our means.
For the 2023-24 budget year, based on very early indicators of what our resources and expenses may be, the district faces a significant overspending of estimated available revenue and a depletion of our fund balance (or "savings account”). Mitigation measures will be necessary to reduce expenditures enough to balance the budget and ensure we have adequate fund balance for unexpected expenses.
To address the shortfall, the district is making both short- and long-term plans to rebalance revenue and expenditures and enter the next school year as financially stable as possible. In addition to work by the Shoreline Schools Business and Operations team, the district has assembled a Budget Advisory Team to develop recommended budget priorities, adjustments, and reductions to present to the School Board on March 21, 2023.
“Student learning and growth are at the forefront of our work to establish effective and sustainable fiscal management of Shoreline Schools,” said Superintendent Susana Reyes. “We are committed to transparent communication and active community engagement throughout this challenging process and the difficult decisions that lie ahead. Together, we will remain dedicated to achieving our mission: Provide a collaborative learning community which engages all students in learning the academic and work-life skills needed to achieve their individual potential and become responsible citizens.”
These resources are available to learn more about the Shoreline Schools budget situation:
