The Edmond Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve the district's final budget for the 2025'26 school year, after hearing a multi‑fund presentation that projected $231 million in general fund revenue and a roughly $6.6 million operating deficit that would reduce the district's general fund balance to about $56 million by year end.

District finance staff told the board the budget covers seven funds with total estimated revenues of about $331 million. Presenters said revenue is essentially flat compared with the prior year because of the loss of federal ESSER dollars and an October 1 enrollment decline of 729 students that will reduce state aid in the following year. Payroll growth of about $10 million was cited as the primary driver of rising expenses, and staff noted that roughly 90% of district spending is payroll.

Why it matters: Board members and district staff said the enrollment decline and the end of federal pandemic funding create near‑term fiscal pressure. Presenters said the district will need to begin identifying cost‑cutting measures to manage future years and protect an operating reserve the board described as important for cash flow and unanticipated costs.

Key details: The finance presentation included:

- A general fund revenue projection of $231,000,000 and total across seven funds of about $331,000,000; a presented operating budget of roughly $243,000,003.55 and a projected outturn of $237,000,000, producing a $6.6 million shortfall compared with the approved estimate of needs.

- Revenue drivers: a shift so ad valorem (property tax) now exceeds state aid; federal funds declined from prior years; the district's assessed valuation and property growth remain important to revenue.

- Expense drivers: payroll (about $10 million increase year over year), and the district's historical practice of encumbering maintenance and other budgets to ensure funds are available for unexpected repairs.

Board discussion and reserve target: Board members questioned how the district handles contingency estimates and encumbrances. Finance staff explained that many budget lines must be encumbered (for example, repair and maintenance) so the money is legally available if emergency work is required, and historical under‑spending informs the operating estimate. One board member said a $35 million reserve would be a comfort threshold and that the board would act to slow spending well before reaching that level.

Bond, sinking fund and debt schedule: Staff reviewed the bond fund, sinking fund and debt service schedule, noting outstanding principal and interest across recent bond draws and explaining that sinking fund ad valorem receipts are used to pay debt service.

Vote: A motion to approve the final budget for the 2025'26 school year passed by roll call with the members voting in favor (recorded as yes by Jones; Benson; Underwood; Coleman; Hobgood).

What the district said next: Finance staff said the district will return to the board with more detailed cost containment proposals as enrollment declines take effect next fiscal year and that they will continue to monitor grant reimbursements and encumbrances.

Provenance: The budget presentation and the motion to adopt the final budget were discussed and recorded in the meeting transcript beginning with "Possible consideration and vote to award final budget" and the subsequent motion to approve the final budget for the 2526 school year.