BY SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

As the Parkland School District administration and board continue preparing the 2025-26 budget, they are looking for ways to reduce expenditures.

At the March 18 workshop meeting, Business Manager Leslie Frisbie stated anticipated expenditures for the new term are presently listed at $250.4 million while revenue stands at $237.5 million, resulting in a shortfall of $12.9 million.

To close the gap, the district has undertaken an expenditure reduction review process.

As personnel look at costs, they are examining three levels of reductions: Tier I would have a low, direct impact on core programs or students.

Tier II would have a moderate impact and Tier III would have a high impact.

Frisbie noted mandated or fixed items, such as salaries and benefits, special education program requirements, transportation, utilities, insurance, charter tuition, entity budgets, and debt service are not likely to be part of expense reductions.

On the other hand, technology and curriculum purchases, professional development, supplies, equipment, extra curricular activities, athletics and facility maintenance may offer some opportunity for lowering costs.

Frisbie reported the administration has reductions in progress for building department budgets in Tier I for a $1.9-million lower cost, new staffing requests in Tier II to save $500,000, and delay of technology replacements in Tier II for $1 million reduction.

Other possible expense reductions relate to the after school activity bus, senior citizens’ dinners, replacement of retirees, security at events, the school resource officer, overtime hours and sale of the Troxell property.

With the ongoing budget preparation, the administration and board will be working toward a balanced budget through expenditure reductions, a possible millage increase, and use of the fund balance.

These actions will be considered at the budget seminar on April 25.