The Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education (BOE) was presented with the district’s 2025-2026 proposed budget during its most recent regular meeting held on Tuesday, May 13.
Finance Director Eric Burt explained that the School Finance Act, or House Bill 25-1320, has been passed by the Colorado Legislature and signed by the governor, noting that ASD’s total program funding for 2025-2026 is listed at $19,616,827.
According to the bill’s summary from the Colorado General Assembly, there are two programs through which public schools are financed, with one scheduled to stop after the 2024-2025 budget year, and the second program is scheduled to begin for the 2030-2031 budget year.
During the transition period, program funding is to be determined by using figures calculated under both the expiring and new formulas.
The newly approved bill extends the transition period by one year, “so that it is from the 2025-26 budget year through the 2030-31 budget year,” according to the summary.
The bill also postpones the “exclusive use of the new formula to determine total program until the 2031-32 budget year.”
Burt explained in his presentation that the total program funding amount was determined based on the 15 percent implementation and four-year averaging of the New School Finance Act.
This results in an increase of approximately 3.2 percent, or $626,496, Burt noted.
The total funding per pupil is $12,377, an increase of $632, according to Burt’s presentation.
Burt went on to note that the projected total general fund revenue is listed at $21,658,000, noting that the general fund budget is balanced, as well as all revenues.
Burt also noted that the budget is being presented earlier than in past years, and that the BOE will not need to hold a special meeting after Memorial Day.
“We have all the information,” Burt said in regard to anticipated funding for the district.
On the expenditures side, Burt noted that the budget proposal includes a 3 percent raise for all employees and a starting teacher salary is now listed at $53,194, along with additional “bumps” for special education aides.
Burt commented that the district had a starting teacher salary of around $34,000 for its 2018-2019 budget, noting the district has made “significant” changes to that over the past seven years.
All non-salary budgets were requested to factor a 5 percent decrease, Burt noted.
He also explained that the proposed expenditures include a $200,000 transfer from the general fund to the food service fund, mentioning there are “a lot of unknowns on this one.”
He explained that the state did not have enough funds to cover the Healthy School Meals For All program, but has agreed to fund the program through at least December.
Burt mentioned that the “thought” is that the state will go to the ballot later this year to ask for increases in tax revenues in order to fund the program.
The district’s capital projects plan has a total expenditure of $565,000 listed.
BOE member Tim Taylor inquired about a previously anticipated “shortfall” in the district’s funding due to application of the School Finance Act.
“We are not gonna see that shortfall,” Burt said.
According to the bill summary, “The bill changes how each school district’s and institute charter school’s annual total program is determined during the transition period. For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 budget years, each school district’s and institute charter school’s annual total program is the greater of the school district’s or institute charter school’s total program for the 2024-25 budget year or the amount calculated under the expiring formula plus an amount equal to 15% in 2025-26 and 30% in 2026-27 of the difference between the amounts calculated under the new formula and the expiring formula.”
Burt also noted in his presentation that the full-time student enrollment is projected to be flat at 1,535 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Additionally, Burt noted that an updated vehicle replacement plan has been included as part of the transportation budget.
BOE president Bob Lynch noted that the board will have time to review the budget before its next regular meeting in June, at which the board will then take action to approve the budget or not.
Superintendent Rick Holt also praised Burt’s efforts, noting that this is the earliest he has been presented with a budget proposal.
Holt also commented on Burt’s work, noting that he has “made some significant changes in the way we track various budgets,” as well as correcting one item of concern noted by the district’s auditors.
clayton@pagosasun.com
