‘Watching every dollar’: Lake Oswego superintendent previews upcoming budget hearings

With high school graduations around the corner, the Lake Oswego School Board gathered on Monday, June 3 for its last meeting during the school year.

Following public comments from congregated parents and community members, Lake Oswego School District Superintendent Jennifer Schiele gave her usual update — including a message about the upcoming 2024-25 school year budget.

With neighboring school districts like Tigard-Tualatin, West Linn-Wilsonville and Portland Public making significant budget reductions next school year, some may worry: Will Lake Oswego also have to make cuts?

“I have been getting a lot of questions about the budget,” said Schiele. “Even though we all have challenges, our reserves have helped save us the last several years — and we are once again dipping into those reserves. That is not sustainable for the long term.

“Our budget challenges include continued labor cost increases, goods and services increases, utility increases … as we all have inflation, our bills have also gone up.”

Schiele said that even though state revenue increased, it doesn’t account for the increased costs for the district. During the 2024-25 year, Schiele said the district will “tighten our belts everywhere we can and watch every dime we’re spending” to hold onto the district’s reserve funds for the future.

“At this point, we’re not sending anything out saying we’re making major cuts like the districts around us,” said Schiele. “I do want people to know that we’re watching every dollar very closely. I think that is the most prudent thing to do so we have as much money as possible going into next year.”

Schiele also said she has directed staff to “come up with process, timing and cost” for the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee’s proposed feasibility study if the board votes to move forward with that recommendation.

LOSD Business Director Stuart Ketzler and the legal budget committee will present the proposed 2024-25 school year budget at the Monday, June 17 meeting.