Central Oregon schools are staring down a tough reality even after the Oregon Legislature bumped up education funding by 11% for the next two years. An $11.4 billion state education budget sounds good on paper, but it’s still not enough to cancel out higher costs and the end of the pandemic money that helped keep things afloat for years.
Bend-La Pine Schools Still Making Hard Choices
Bend-La Pine Schools will technically have more money next year. Their budget is up 36% from last year, but that jump mostly comes from leftover bond money voters approved back in 2022. That money is already earmarked for specific projects like giving Bend High a facelift, putting in new door locks all over the district, and re-roofing La Pine Middle School.
But when it comes to day-to-day school operations, they’re still trimming where they can. Dan Emerson, the district’s CFO, says rising costs for staff pay and retirement plans mean they have to cut or move more than 37 certified employees through attrition. So far, they’ve avoided big layoffs, but Emerson admits that trick will be harder to pull off for a third year straight.
To pinch pennies, the district has sold land for affordable housing for teachers, leased iPads instead of buying them outright, and cut down how often they water grass areas—though athletic fields will stay green. They’ve also added more educational assistants and a new Medicaid role to help stretch resources.
Even with all this, Emerson says they’ll probably need to find more cuts next year. He hopes smarter budgeting now will soften the blow later, but it’s clear the “funding cliff” from the lost pandemic money hasn’t gone away.
Redmond School District Balances Growth and Gaps
Redmond’s budget is going up too. It’s about $98 million bigger than last year’s because of a $97.7 million bond voters approved last November. That money will mostly go toward upgrading schools like Redmond High.
They’re also getting a bump in their state funding, which helped add staff in food services. More kids now get free meals, so extra hands are needed. They’re hiring for special education too but had to trim some jobs in middle and high schools where enrollment is expected to dip.
Kathy Steinert, Redmond’s fiscal services director, says cuts made last year cushioned the blow from losing federal relief funds. Because most of that emergency money was already used up, they didn’t hit the same cliff that other districts are seeing now.
Looking ahead, the district expects flat enrollment next year but sees steady growth over the next decade. They’re also gearing up for new contract talks with the local school employees union and bracing for more tweaks as retirement plan costs change.
Steinert is hopeful lawmakers will keep finding ways to help schools. But she knows how unpredictable budgets can be. “You really do have to stay optimistic in this business,” she says.
High Desert Education Service District Takes a Hit
For the High Desert Education Service District, the squeeze feels even tighter. Their budget for next year is actually smaller—down 2% from last year. The end of pandemic funding hit them hard, and rising costs aren’t helping.
Early intervention and special education programs will see about $4 million in cuts. Some of that comes from changing service plans, and some from straight-up budget reductions. They’re doing what they can to soften the blow—expanding Medicaid billing, prepaying some costs with state approval, and using staff transfers and attrition instead of big layoffs.
Still, parents are worried. Many showed up at board meetings asking leaders to reconsider the cuts. But the board approved the budget as is.
HDESD works with multiple local districts, including Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Sisters and Crook County. In a public statement, the district said unstable budgets make it hard to plan long term, especially for programs that help kids with disabilities. They’re pushing for more reliable funding to keep services steady for families who need them most.
The Bottom Line
The funding boost from Salem is better than nothing, but rising costs and the loss of emergency relief dollars mean Central Oregon schools are in for more belt-tightening. Districts are getting creative—selling land, adjusting staffing, and trimming water use—just to stay balanced. But unless something big changes, many schools expect more cuts next year.
One thing is clear: Even with more money on paper, the people running Central Oregon’s schools will keep having to make tough calls to keep classrooms open and kids learning. And for families, staff and students, the budget cliff still feels very real.
