School buildings fund cut by more than half

What happened

The School Facilities Fund, which pays for work on school buildings, is set at $950,000 for 2026-27, down from $2,122,780 the year before and $1,800,000 the year before that. The budget shows the whole $950,000 coming from money carried over from previous years. The county puts no new contribution into this fund at all, and it receives no state or federal money.

Why it matters to families

This is the pot that pays for roofs, heating, wiring and other work on school buildings. Cutting it by $1,172,780 in one year means less building work, and because the fund is made up only of leftover money rather than a yearly contribution, it shrinks as it is spent unless the county adds to it. Repairs that are put off usually cost more later.

The evidence

Washington County's requested and recommended budget for FY 2026-2027 shows the School Facilities Fund funded entirely from carryover funds, $2,122,780 in FY 2026 and $950,000 requested, recommended and adopted for FY 2027, with zero local county contributions, state income and federal income in every column. The adopted FY 2026-2027 budget carries the same $950,000, and the adopted FY 2025-2026 budget shows the fund at $1,800,000 for FY 2025 rising to $2,122,780 for FY 2026.

The source