2026-27 Budget Development

-Budget Update - June 5, 2026 - School Board adopts 2026-27 Budget

-Budget Update - May 14, 2026 - Budget Committee approves Proposed Budget

-Budget Update - April 30, 2026 - 2026-27 Proposed Budget Released

-Budget Update - April 24, 2026 - Budget Reductions for 2026-27

- Budget Update - April 3, 2026

-Superintendent Klinger’s Message - Budget Survey Results - March 13, 2026

-Budget Update - February 23, 2026

-Budget Update - February 12, 2026

-Budget Update - February 6, 2026

-Budget Update - January 21, 2026

-Budget Update - January 13, 2026

-Superintendent Klinger's Message - December 17, 2025

-Superintendent Klinger's Message - November 21, 2025

The Gresham-Barlow School District budget development process will follow a set of guiding principles. These guiding principles reflect the district’s commitment to responsible, student-centered financial stewardship. It is important we take a balanced approach when making reductions, centering on the needs of our students and long-term sustainability. 

Guiding Principles: Financial

• Continue the district’s legacy of fiscal conservatism that has led to relative stability over time despite the ups and downs of state funding.
• Create tiered budget reduction targets of $7.5M, $10M, $11M, and $13M to provide clear, actionable options for various funding outcomes.
• Consider how the final adopted budget for the upcoming fiscal year makes progress towards restoring an Ending Fund Balance that meets the 8% minimum required by Board Policy, safeguarding the district's financial reserves and fiscal stability.
• Identify budget cuts that are sustainable year after year without the reliance on solutions that only last for one fiscal year.
• Work to maintain a full student school year and meet all state-mandated requirements.

Guiding Principles: Process

• Communicate information that clearly articulates local, state, and federal budget challenges and GBSD’s steps to balance the budget.
• Utilize an equity-based decision-making tool that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable student populations throughout the process.
• Support staff and students who are directly impacted by reductions. 

Equity-Based Decision Making for Prioritization

1. Is this a requirement?
2. Which instructional priorities are impacted? 
3. With reductions, do we maintain the capacity needed to implement our key priorities?
4. What is the impact on effective safety, legal, and operational responsibilities in the district?
5. Does this have a disproportionate impact on focal groups? Who/How?
6. What community values or implications may be impacted based on the feedback collected? From which focal populations?

The Gresham-Barlow School District has created a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" about the budget and the district's finances. This list will be updated periodically throughout the budget development process. If you have a question, please email it to gbsd@gresham.k12.or.us

-Why are budget cuts necessary?

Simply put, funding is not keeping pace with rising costs.

Staffing costs continue to rise, especially related to rapidly increasing PERS costs.

Like districts across Oregon, our student enrollment is declining, which reduces the state funding we receive.

The state of Oregon is also facing a revenue shortfall for the 2025-27 biennium due to new federal tax policies. 

In addition, the amount of federal funding we will receive for next school year is uncertain. 

We must make budget reductions to bring our revenues in line with expenditures.

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-Where does GBSD’s funding come from, and how is the amount determined?

The majority of our funding comes from the state of Oregon. Every two years (each biennium), the legislature determines how much schools will receive.

School districts receive more money depending on a number of factors, including:

• Student enrollment
• The number of special education students enrolled
• The number of English language learners they serve

We watch these indicators closely to help us project how much funding we will have to work with in the coming years.

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-How does GBSD spend the funding it receives?

About 70% of our budget goes directly to our people—paying the teachers and staff who work with our students and who support our schools. The remaining 30% covers everything else it takes to run our schools, including bus drivers, nutrition service workers, building utilities, maintenance, and classroom supplies.

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-How has the District managed inadequate state and federal funding in past school years?

In prior years, the District has dipped into its financial reserves (ending fund balance, or EFB) to balance the budget. Our financial reserves are comparable to the district's savings account. 

Our reserves have fallen below the school board's minimum amount of 8% of our operating budget.   

We can no longer dip into reserves to balance the budget.

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-Did the District make budget reductions for the 2025-26 school year?

Yes, to balance the budget, the District used a combination of staff reductions and non-payroll reductions (supplies and materials, professional development, etc.). The District reduced its budget by $8.1 million through staffing reductions and other cost-saving measures.

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-In reducing the budget, how will decisions be made?

The superintendent is responsible for overseeing the preparation of the proposed budget, which is the product of an extensive, collaborative process. 

In early February, we will engage the community to share information and learn what is valued most about our educational program. 

In developing the budget, District staff will follow a set of guiding principles. These guiding principles reflect the district’s commitment to responsible, student-centered financial stewardship. 

It is important we take a balanced approach when making reductions, centering on the needs of our students and long-term sustainability, while monitoring the impacts on students, families, and staff.

View the Guiding Principles

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-What can families, staff, and community members do to increase the level of funding schools receive?

The best way for supporters of K-12 education to make a difference is by contacting their state lawmakers. It’s important to share with legislators why adequate funding is needed to ensure we can meet the needs of all students.

Contact Information for State Lawmakers

Budget Committee meetings are listed below. If you would like to learn more about the GBSD budget or provide feedback during a public hearing, you are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities listed below.

 

March 19, 2026

Budget 101 Workshop

An introduction to state K-12 funding, the GBSD general fund budget, and an orientation to the budget process.

7 pm

Center for Advanced Learning

1484 NW Civic Drive, Gresham, OR 97030

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NEW Date: April 29, 2026

Budget Committee Meeting

Election of budget committee officers, delivery of budget message, review of proposed budget, and opportunity for public input. 

7 pm

NEW Location: Clear Creek Middle School Library

219 NE 219th Avenue, Gresham, OR 97030

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NEW Date: May 13, 2026

Budget Committee Meeting (If Needed)

Continued review of the proposed budget, opportunity for public comment. Budget Committee can approve proposed budget.

NEW Start Time: 6 pm

NEW Location: Gresham-Barlow School District Office, 1331 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, OR 97030

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June 4, 2026

Budget Hearing

Hearing takes place at 6:45 pm at the GBSD District Office. Board to adopt budget, make appropriations, and levy taxes.

6:45 pm

Gresham-Barlow School District Office

1331 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, OR 97030
 

2025-26 Budget Reductions

Going into the 2025–26 school year, the Gresham-Barlow School District made significant cost reductions to maintain financial stability while continuing to support student learning.

2025-2026 Staffing Reductions

Staffing levels were reduced across employee groups compared to 2024–25: Classified staff by .91%, Licensed staff by 5.61%, and Administrative staff by 9.00%.

• 9.0 FTE ES Teachers
• 8.0 FTE Instructional Coaches
• 6.01 FTE MS Teachers
• 5.5 FTE HS Teachers
• 5.0 FTE Title I Teachers
• 2.5 FTE ELL Teachers
• 1.5 FTE SpEd Teachers
• 1.0 FTE ES Counselor / CDS
• 1.0 FTE Director of Student Engagement & Inclusion
• 1.0 FTE Director of K-12 Schools
• 3.0 FTE ES Assistant Principals
• 1.0 FTE Technology
• 0.625 FTE Title I EA
• 0.5 FTE District Office Administrative Assistant
• 0.5 FTE Engagement Liaison
• 0.5 FTE Teen Parent Liaison
• 0.5 FTE SpEd Device & Equipment Assistant

*1.0 FTE equals one full-time employee.

2025-26 Non-Payroll Reductions

• Supplies and Materials:
  • Reduced print & copying costs
  • Reduced school and department budgets
  • Slowed curriculum adoptions and splitting costs over multiple years
• Professional Development:
  • Reduction of professional development and training opportunities
  • Closely monitored all costs to Professional Development/Orientations/District Celebrations to minimize spending.
• Software and Subscriptions:
  • Reduced software subscriptions
• Other:
  • Eliminated district-covered Advanced Placement test fees
  • Re-implemented extra-curricular fees and athletics fees that were paid for with ESSER funds during the pandemic

February 4 Budget Presentation Video - English

February 4 Budget Presentation Video - Spanish

February 10 Virtual Budget Forum