Natrona County School Board braces for $4M budget shortfall

CASPER (WNE) — The Natrona County School District is expecting to lose millions from next school year’s budget following a review of enrollment numbers for the 2024-25 academic year.

Average daily membership, a key metric used by the state to determine district-by-district funding, is down by 445 students from last year, according to a committee report during Monday’s board meeting, and trustees estimate that could result in a loss of at least $4 million next year.

“Unfortunately within a school district where 81% of your budget is personnel, it’s going to make cuts a little bit more emotional,” said Trustee Thomas Myler.

In addition to staff reductions, Myler said the district could consider cuts to department budgets up to 5%, a similar reduction of school budgets and more one-year-only teacher contracts to address the shortfall.

Exactly how the board intends to cut this money and how much it will need to cut has yet to be determined.

This story was published on November 27, 2024.