Last week, the Legislature finalized the 2026 supplemental budget, an update to the state’s current two-year budget. The state continues to significantly under fund K-12 education and the real cost to operate schools.
That gap is one reason Highline must reduce its budget by $8 million for the 2026-27 school year.
On Wednesday, the Highline School Board held a work session on the district’s budget. The discussion reflected a challenge many districts across Washington are facing: needs continue to grow, while resources remain limited.
What changed at the state budget
The state’s supplemental budget provided a few positive steps. We will be exempt from a newer sales tax on services, which has increased costs for things like contracted staff and technology. The state continues to expand access to free school meals. Highline students have had access to no-cost meals for the last several years.
Statewide, lawmakers approved about $80 million in cuts to education programs. The budget includes reductions that affect students, including a reduction of funding for the state’s Transition to Kindergarten, and limits to Running Start summer access, which reduces opportunities for students to earn college credit.
We are still reviewing what these changes may mean for Highline schools and programs.
What we know today
Student enrollment has remained steady in Highline, but school funding from the state has not kept up with rising costs. This year, Highline is already using savings to help cover expenses, and next year, costs are expected to be higher than available funding again.
Our goal is to make thoughtful budget changes now so Highline can remain financially stable in the years ahead.
Central office departments are reducing their budgets by at least 8% for 2026–27. Identified reductions include:
- 31.5 centrally funded positions
- No cost-of-living adjustments (inflationary adjustments) for cabinet, central office administrators, professional technical positions and executive assistants
- $1.4 million in departmental non-staffing reductions including reduced contracts, tools and travel
Together, these changes total $8 million in reductions for 2026-27.
At the March 18 board work session, leaders shared that additional reductions may be needed in 2027-28 as Highline works to bring revenues and expenses back into alignment.
Highline may receive support from a future technology levy, with possible collection beginning in 2027. That funding could help with technology needs in future years, but it would not address immediate budget challenges. A technology levy would first need approval from the School Board to go on the ballot, and then approval from voters.
Why this Matters
You may hear that school funding has increased in some areas. But those increases often do not match the actual cost of running schools today.
As a result, districts like Highline are left to close the gap between what schools need and what the state provides. Across Washington, districts are making hard choices to remain financially stable while continuing to serve students.
By making reductions now, we can maintain financial stability and help avoid more significant disruptions in future years.
Budget Development Process
We share clear updates throughout the year to keep staff, families, and our community informed. Here are the articles we have shared so far:
- May 2025: We outlined the impacts of the new state budget and the underfunding in special education, transportation and basic operations.
- July 2025: The School Board voted to place a levy renewal on the November ballot to help fill the gap in state funding.
- September 2025: We shared more detail about what the levy could support, including programs, services and staff not funded by the state.
- October 2025: Superintendent Ivan Duran shared we must reduce our 2026-27 budget by $8 million to maintain long-term stability.
- November 2025: Department leaders began reviewing budgets to identify potential reductions and efficiencies.
- December 2026: We shared our 2026 legislative agenda, a fully funding K-12 education in Washington state
- January 2026: We asked our community to give feedback on budget priorities as we align limited resources with our goals. We also shared enrollment projections for the 2026-27 school year.
- February 2026: We announced Central Office reductions including the elimination of 31.5 central office positions.
- March 2026: We shared that we are exploring a renewal of a capital technology levy as a continued source of local funding.