Jeffco board approves 2026-27 budget, reserve draw and teacher agreement on 4-1 votes

Jeffco Public Schools’ board on June 11 approved the district’s 2026-27 budget, a separate reserve-use resolution and a tentative agreement with the teachers union, each on 4-1 votes. Director Denine Echevarria cast the lone no vote each time.

The adopted budget keeps Jeffco on a deficit-spending path for another year. In a separate fund-balance resolution, the district authorized use of $13,107,842 from the General Fund for “compensation increases for 2026-27 and from prior years,” part of a broader $48.3 million authorization across several funds, including capital reserve and property management.

The adopted budget appropriates about $1.058 billion from the General Fund, including $990.5 million in spending and transfers and $67.3 million in reserves. Across all funds, the district adopted a total appropriation of about $1.408 billion.

Board action also formalized a strategy district leaders had outlined in earlier budget discussions: use reserves to avoid deeper immediate cuts while counting on either new voter-approved revenue or another round of reductions. The adopted resolution says any voter-approved general-purpose mill levy override revenue would first offset the budgeted General Fund draw. If voters do not approve that revenue, the resolution says Jeffco would work with staff and stakeholders on reductions that could include changes to staff workday calendars, district-funded benefits, staffing levels, school consolidations, programming and contracted costs.

During debate, Echevarria said in the June 11 meeting she could not support “another deficit budget,” arguing the district was “choosing to spend money that we do not yet have” and putting schools at risk if a November mill levy override fails. She said Jeffco had already reduced “approximately $40 million in expenditures” but that she was “not yet convinced” every possible reduction option had been exhausted.

Board President Paula Applegate said in the same meeting she was comfortable supporting one more year of deficit spending because the district would “still have about a hundred million left in our reserves,” adding that she was not willing to go below that level. Director Erin Kenworthy said the district had already worked to cut about $40 million and argued the adopted budget was what students and staff need for the coming school year.

The labor vote locked in compensation terms for licensed educators. According to the board’s June 11 agenda materials, the Jeffco-JCEA tentative agreement provides steps and lanes for eligible educators; a one-time 1.25% increase for educators who had reached step 22 by or during 2025-26; a 0.5% ongoing increase for educators who move into lane 6 by the end of 2025-26; a 2.5% increase for educators who move into lane 6 during 2026-27; and the third year of a salary schedule restructuring for coaches and activity sponsors. The materials also say the bargaining teams agreed to contract-language changes across several articles and added a new Article 26 on post-incident response.

The draft agreement says the district and union agreed to reopen salary and compensation negotiations within 30 calendar work days if voters approve a ballot measure that brings in additional General Fund revenue.

Separate from the budget and labor votes, the board also approved a package of operational spending items on its June 11 consent agenda.

The largest of the six highlighted items was a one-year renewal with Spark Energy for natural-gas acquisition and transportation at an estimated $4 million, running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, after Spark acquired the district’s prior provider, United Energy Trading.

The board also approved a 12-month agreement with DHE Computer Systems for up to $2 million in Windows client devices and accessories. District materials describe that as the third of four possible renewals and say the spending level is comparable to 2025-26, while also citing enhanced device specifications and continued use of Windows machines as core equipment for many staff, labs and career-tech programs.

Another item was an agreement with Children’s Hospital Colorado for the district’s high school athletic trainer program totaling about $1.751 million. The agenda says that amount includes roughly $22,500 for physician or other trained medical-professional sideline coverage at more than 100 varsity football games, in addition to certified athletic trainer services.

In literacy spending, the board approved a Lexia contract amendment estimated at about $1.3 million. District records say the change renews the program for another year and expands licenses to all K-3 students, fourth- and fifth-graders on READ Plans, and some sixth-graders.

The district also received approval to continue paying sports officials through Arbiter at a forecasted 2026-27 cost of $950,000. Agenda materials say the district office pays officials up front and is reimbursed by host schools, with the expected increase from the current year linked to more tournaments and invitationals hosted as fundraisers and to a statewide shortage of officials.

For athletic uniforms and gear, the board approved continued BSN Sports purchasing authority not to exceed $575,000 for 2026-27. The district said spending across all 18 high schools had reached $531,102 in 2025-26 as of May 19 and described the arrangement as a way to maintain competitive pricing for CHSAA-related equipment and uniforms.

The immediate takeaway for families and employees is that Jeffco has now formally adopted the reserve-backed budget framework district leaders previewed earlier this month while preserving day-to-day spending on utilities, reading interventions, staff technology and athletics. The larger unresolved question is whether voters approve new tax revenue in November or the district moves into another round of cuts.